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When to plant Horehound in Wallace County, KS

Plant Horehound in Wallace County, between May 8 and May 22 — the only viable window. Zone 6a's short season (161 frost-free days) rules out a fall crop.

When to Plant Horehound in Wallace County, KS

Wallace County, Kansas Zone 6a August

Your August gardening checklist

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

Avg. last frost May 1
Avg. first frost October 9
Soil temp (4") 77°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure High
Daylight 13.5 hrs
  1. Basket week: horehound

    Morning harvests are best — cooler temperatures mean crisper produce and longer fridge life.

Get ahead of September
  • First harvests: horehound

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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.

Wallace County, Kansas is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is May 1 and the first fall frost is October 9, giving you a growing season of approximately 161 days.

At an elevation of 1,023 feet, Wallace County receives approximately 33.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 83°F, so choose short-season varieties of Horehound to ensure they mature before fall.

Wallace County, KS (Zone 6a) Moderate season
161 days
Last Spring Frost May 1
161 growing days
First Fall Frost October 9

Wallace County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.7-7.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Horehound Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (22 days to spare)
Transplant: May 3 🍅 Harvest: Jul 19 – Sep 13
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (21 days to spare)
Transplant: May 8 🍅 Harvest: Jul 24 – Sep 18
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (22 days to spare)
Transplant: May 21 🍅 Harvest: Aug 6 – Oct 1

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 Wallace County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.7–7.2) is within Horehound's preferred range (6.0–8.0).

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.4%) — Horehound will thrive.

How to Plant Horehound

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

Succession Planting Horehound

2
successive plantings in your 161-day season

Sow every 8.6 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 11 to harvest before frost.

Horehound Water Budget

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

Water stress score is 8/10 — 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 2.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 2.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 3.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 2.2" 4.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.2" 2.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.2" 2.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 3.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 2.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2.2" 2.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 2.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Oct in Wallace 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 ~1,011 GDD — county provides 1,972 GDD Excellent fit

Horehound Planting Timeline — Wallace County, KS

Horehound Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors May 8 May 8 – May 22
Harvest July 24 Jul 24 – Sep 18

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March
April
May Transplant Outdoors
June
July Harvest
August Harvest
September Harvest
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 6a

📆 Growing Season

161 days in Wallace County

Growing Tips for Horehound in Wallace County

Direct sow Horehound outdoors after May 01 in Wallace 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 Wallace County, KS?

Wallace County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of May 1. Plan your Horehound planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Wallace County, KS?

Wallace County, Kansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is May 1 and first fall frost is October 9.

When should I plant Horehound in Wallace County, KS?

In Wallace County, KS, plant Horehound after the last frost (around May 1) and before the first frost (around October 9). Best results when soil holds above 50°F.

What growing zone is Wallace County, KS for Horehound?

Wallace County sits in USDA Zone 6a. Horehound grows reliably in zones 3a through 10b, so it's a good fit here.

Can Horehound grow in Wallace County's climate?

Yes — Horehound grows well in Wallace County's temperate climate. Wallace County averages a 161-day frost-free season, with last frost around May 1 and first frost around October 9.

🌱

Your Wallace County Garden Planner — Free

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

Sources & credits

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