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When to Plant Mustard Greens in Sherman County, KS

Sherman County, Kansas Zone 6a May

Your May game plan for Sherman County, Kansas

A quick May briefing for Sherman County, Kansas gardeners — what's urgent, what's next, and what can wait.

Avg. last frost May 2
Avg. first frost October 11
Soil temp (4") 58°F
Watering High
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.2 hrs
  1. Harden off and plant mustard greens

    Harden off for 7 days — a little more sun each day — before planting. That's the difference between a seedling that thrives and one that stalls.

Looking ahead to June
  • Starting indoors: mustard greens
  • First harvests: mustard greens

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Mustard greens are fast-growing brassicas with a spicy, peppery kick. They come in green, red, and purple varieties and are excellent cooked or in salads.

Sherman County, Kansas is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is May 2 and the first fall frost is October 11, giving you a growing season of approximately 162 days.

At an elevation of 831 feet, Sherman County receives approximately 24.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 86°F, providing good warmth for Mustard Greens during the growing season.

Sherman County, KS (Zone 6a) Moderate season
162 days
Last Spring Frost May 2
162 growing days
First Fall Frost October 11
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Sherman County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.7-7.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (64 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 22 Transplant: Apr 26 🍅 Harvest: May 31 – Aug 2
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (64 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 28 Transplant: May 2 🍅 Harvest: Jun 6 – Aug 8
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (65 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 9 Transplant: May 14 🍅 Harvest: Jun 18 – Aug 20

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 Sherman County

How your county's soil matches Mustard Greens's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.7–7.3) overlaps with Mustard Greens's range (6.0–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Sherman County is excellent for Mustard Greens — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Mustard Greens.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.1%) — Mustard Greens will thrive.

How to Plant Mustard Greens

0.5"
Planting Depth
6"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Mustard Greens

6
successive plantings in your 162-day season

Sow every 3.4 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 22 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 02.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.7″/week
Rainfall provides
0.6″/week
You supply
0.3″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 467 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Mustard Greens

Mustard Greens needs approximately 0.7 inches of water per week (3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Mustard Greens Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 1.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 3" 2.7" 0.3" 💧 Light watering
Jun 3" 1.8" 1.2" 💧 Light watering
Jul 3" 2.4" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
Aug 3" 2.8" 0.2" 💧 Light watering
Sep 3" 2.1" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
Oct 3" 2.1" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
Nov 1.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Mustard Greens 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.

Mustard Greens needs ~580 GDD — county provides 2,349 GDD Excellent fit

Mustard Greens Planting Timeline — Sherman County, KS

Mustard Greens Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 28 Mar 28 – Apr 11
Transplant Outdoors May 2 May 2 – May 16
Direct Sow April 18 Apr 18 – May 9
Harvest June 6 Jun 6 – Aug 8
Fall Sowing August 2 Aug 2 – Aug 16

Plant 0.5" deep · 6" apart · Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March Start Indoors
April Start Indoors Direct Sow
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June Harvest
July Harvest
August Fall Sowing Harvest
September
October
November
December
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Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

0.7"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

30–50 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

📆 Growing Season

162 days in Sherman County

Growing Tips for Mustard Greens in Sherman County

Direct sow Mustard Greens outdoors after May 02 in Sherman County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 162.0-day season in Sherman County allows multiple plantings of Mustard Greens. Sow every 15.0 days for continuous harvest.

Common pests for Mustard Greens in this region include cabbage worm and flea beetles. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Direct sow in early spring or fall. Harvest young leaves for milder flavor. Plants bolt quickly in heat so grow as a cool-season crop or provide shade.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Strawberries

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Mustard Greens in Sherman County, KS?

Sherman County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of May 2. Plan your Mustard Greens planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Sherman County, KS?

Sherman County, Kansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is May 2 and first fall frost is October 11.

🌱

Your Sherman County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Sherman County (Zone 6a). 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 Sherman 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.