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When to plant Lilies in Osage County County,

In Osage County County, Lilies is a single-season spring crop — there's no second fall window. Plant April 19–May 3 for an 120-day harvest, finishing well before the October 25 first frost.

When to Plant Lilies in Osage County, KS

Osage County, Kansas Zone 6b June

June in Osage County, Kansas — your action list

Your garden in Osage County, Kansas is working on a schedule, even when you're not. Here's where you should be this June.

Avg. last frost April 12
Avg. first frost October 25
Soil temp (4") 73°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure High
Daylight 14.7 hrs
  1. Collect lilies at their peak

    Don't tug. Use scissors or pruners for clean cuts — torn stems invite disease.

Coming up in July — start thinking about
  • First harvests: lilies

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Lilies (Lilium spp.) are among the most impressive summer-blooming bulbs, delivering bold, upward- or outward-facing trumpet blooms on tall stems from June through August. Asiatic hybrids are the most cold-hardy, earliest to bloom, and easiest to grow; Oriental hybrids bloom later with intensely fragrant, larger flowers. Orienpet (OT) hybrids combine the hardiness of Asiatics with the fragrance and size of Orientals. True lilies (not to be confused with daylilies, which are Hemerocallis) form scaly bulbs that persist and multiply underground, returning reliably each year with increasingly large clumps.

Osage County, Kansas is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 12 and the first fall frost is October 25, giving you a growing season of approximately 196 days.

At an elevation of 504 feet, Osage County receives approximately 28.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 89°F, providing good warmth for Lilies during the growing season.

Perennial Blooms in Summer Pollinator-friendly Good for cutting Fragrant
Osage County, KS (Zone 6b) Moderate season
196 days
Last Spring Frost April 12
196 growing days
First Fall Frost October 25
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Osage County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.6-7.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Lilies Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (19 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 13 🌸 Bloom: Jun 22 – Sep 28
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (21 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 19 🌸 Bloom: Jun 28 – Oct 4
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (23 days to spare)
Transplant: May 3 🌸 Bloom: Jul 12 – Oct 18

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 Osage County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.6–7.6) is more alkaline than Lilies prefers (6.0–6.5). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (4.0%). Annual compost additions will help Lilies.

How to Plant Lilies

5"
Planting Depth
12"
Between Plants
18"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Lilies

3
successive plantings in your 196-day season

Sow every 8 weeks. Last sowing by Jun 27 to harvest before frost.

Lilies Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.6″/week
You supply
0.4″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 683 gal / 100 sq ft

Monthly Watering Guide for Lilies

Lilies needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Lilies Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 3.2" 1.1" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 4" 0.3" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 4.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 3.5" 0.8" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.3" 3.4" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2.7" 1.6" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 1.7" 2.6" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Lilies 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.

Lilies needs ~1,591 GDD — county provides 3,283 GDD Excellent fit

Lilies Planting Timeline — Osage County, KS

Lilies Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors April 19 Apr 19 – May 3
Bloom June 28 Jun 28 – Oct 4

Plant 5" deep · 12" apart · Rows 18" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March
April Transplant Outdoors
May Transplant Outdoors
June Bloom
July Bloom
August Bloom
September Bloom
October Bloom
November
December
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Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

70–120 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–6.5 · Your soil: too_alkaline

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

📆 Growing Season

196 days in Osage County

Growing Tips for Lilies in Osage County

Direct sow Lilies outdoors after April 12 in Osage County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

General growing tips

Plant bulbs in fall (preferred, September–October) or spring, setting them 3 times their diameter deep (typically 4–6 inches) with the pointed end up. Lilies need excellent drainage — they will rot in wet or heavy clay soils. Site with full sun on stems and blooms but cool, shaded soil at the base (ground cover or shallow-rooted annuals at their feet is ideal). Remove spent blooms but leave stems and foliage until they yellow naturally, as the bulb needs the foliage to photosynthesize and rebuild energy stores. Red lily beetle is a serious pest in the Northeast and Pacific Northwest; inspect plants regularly and hand-pick adults and larvae. Never plant Oriental or Asiatic lilies near cats — all Lilium species are highly toxic to cats. Year 2+ bulbs produce the most stems and largest blooms.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Lilies in Osage County, KS?

Osage County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of April 12. Plan your Lilies planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Osage County, KS?

Osage County, Kansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 12 and first fall frost is October 25.

When should I plant Lilies in Osage County County, ?

In Osage County County, , plant Lilies after the last frost (around April 12) and before the first frost (around October 25). Best results when soil holds above 50°F.

What growing zone is Osage County County, for Lilies?

Osage County County sits in USDA Zone 6b. Lilies grows reliably in zones 3a through 9a, so it's a good fit here.

Can Lilies grow in Osage County County's climate?

Yes — Lilies grows well in Osage County County's temperate climate. Osage County County averages a 196-day frost-free season, with last frost around April 12 and first frost around October 25.

🌱

Your Osage County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Osage 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 Osage County, KS. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: June 2026.

Sources & credits

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