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When to Plant Mustard Greens in Daviess County, KY

Daviess County, Kentucky Zone 7a May

Daviess County, Kentucky gardeners: here's your May plan

Welcome to May in Zone 7a. These are the moves that will have the biggest impact on your growing season.

Avg. last frost April 6
Avg. first frost October 31
Soil temp (4") 60°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14 hrs
  1. Start mustard greens indoors

    These need a head start before your last frost (April 6). Sow into cells now so you're ready to transplant in a few weeks.

  2. Bring in the mustard greens

    Check every 1–2 days. Many of these get tough or go to seed if you wait too long.

June will be here before you know it — start on
  • 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.

Daviess County, Kentucky is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 6 and the first fall frost is October 31, giving you a growing season of approximately 208 days.

At an elevation of 1,390 feet, Daviess County receives approximately 40.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 91°F, providing good warmth for Mustard Greens during the growing season.

Daviess County, KY (Zone 7a) Long season
208 days
Last Spring Frost April 6
208 growing days
First Fall Frost October 31

Daviess County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.3-6.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (109 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 22 Transplant: Mar 29 🍅 Harvest: May 3 – Jul 5
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (110 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 2 Transplant: Apr 6 🍅 Harvest: May 11 – Jul 13
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (117 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 13 Transplant: Apr 17 🍅 Harvest: May 22 – Jul 24

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 Daviess County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.3–6.7) overlaps with Mustard Greens's range (6.0–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.7%). Annual compost additions will help Mustard Greens.

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

8
successive plantings in your 208-day season

Sow every 3.4 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 11 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 22.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.7″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft

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 3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 3" 3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 3" 2.9" 0.1" 💧 Light watering
Jun 3" 3.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3" 4.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3" 3.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3" 3.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 3" 3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 3.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 3.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Daviess 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 ~730 GDD — county provides 3,796 GDD Excellent fit

Mustard Greens Planting Timeline — Daviess County, KY

Mustard Greens Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 2 Mar 2 – Mar 16
Transplant Outdoors April 6 Apr 6 – Apr 20
Direct Sow March 23 Mar 23 – Apr 13
Harvest May 11 May 11 – Jul 13
Fall Sowing August 22 Aug 22 – Sep 5

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

0.7"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

30–50 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

📆 Growing Season

208 days in Daviess County

Growing Tips for Mustard Greens in Daviess County

Direct sow Mustard Greens outdoors after April 06 in Daviess County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 208.0-day season in Daviess 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 Daviess County, KY?

Daviess County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 6. Plan your Mustard Greens planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Daviess County, KY?

Daviess County, Kentucky is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 6 and first fall frost is October 31.

🌱

Your Daviess County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Daviess County (Zone 7a). 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 Daviess County, KY. 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.