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When to Plant Horehound in Greenwood County, KS

Greenwood County, Kansas Zone 6b May

Top priorities for Greenwood County, Kansas gardeners in May

May is a pivotal month for Greenwood County, Kansas gardens. Focus on these tasks first and you'll set up the rest of the season for success.

Avg. last frost April 9
Avg. first frost October 25
Soil temp (4") 63°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14 hrs

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Horehound is a woolly, drought-tolerant perennial herb traditionally used for cough remedies and candy. It has a distinctive bitter, menthol-like flavor.

Greenwood County, Kansas is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 9 and the first fall frost is October 25, giving you a growing season of approximately 199 days.

At an elevation of 595 feet, Greenwood County receives approximately 26 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 87°F, providing good warmth for Horehound during the growing season.

Greenwood County, KS (Zone 6b) Moderate season
199 days
Last Spring Frost April 9
199 growing days
First Fall Frost October 25

Greenwood County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-7.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (57 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 11 🍅 Harvest: Jun 27 – Aug 22
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (59 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 16 🍅 Harvest: Jul 2 – Aug 27
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (61 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 29 🍅 Harvest: Jul 15 – Sep 9

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Greenwood County

How your county's soil matches Horehound's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.5–7.2) is within Horehound's preferred range (6.0–8.0).

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Greenwood County is excellent for Horehound — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.2%) — Horehound will thrive.

How to Plant Horehound

0.5"
Planting Depth
8"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Horehound

3
successive plantings in your 199-day season

Sow every 8.6 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 27 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.6″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Horehound

Horehound needs approximately 0.5 inches of water per week (2.2" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Horehound Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 0.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.2" 2.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 2.2" 3.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.2" 4.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.2" 3.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 3.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 2.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2.2" 1.6" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
Nov 0.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Greenwood County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Horehound Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" — every day above 50°F deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Horehound needs ~1,258 GDD — county provides 3,034 GDD Excellent fit

Horehound Planting Timeline — Greenwood County, KS

Horehound Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors April 16 Apr 16 – Apr 30
Harvest July 2 Jul 2 – Aug 27

Plant 0.5" deep · 8" apart · Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March
April Transplant Outdoors
May
June
July Harvest
August Harvest
September
October
November
December

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.5"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

75–90 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–8 · Your soil: ideal

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

📆 Growing Season

199 days in Greenwood County

Growing Tips for Horehound in Greenwood County

Direct sow Horehound outdoors after April 09 in Greenwood County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

General growing tips

Direct sow or start from divisions. Thrives in poor, dry soil. Harvest stems just before flowering. Deadhead to prevent aggressive self-seeding. Very drought-tolerant once established.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Horehound in Greenwood County, KS?

Greenwood County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of April 9. Plan your Horehound planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Greenwood County, KS?

Greenwood County, Kansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 9 and first fall frost is October 25.

🌱

Your Greenwood County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Greenwood County (Zone 6b). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Greenwood County, KS. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: May 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.