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When to Plant Radish in Pendleton County, KY

Pendleton County, Kentucky Zone 6b May

May in the garden — Pendleton County, Kentucky

If you only do a handful of things in the garden this May, make it these. They're sequenced around your zone's frost timing.

Avg. last frost April 16
Avg. first frost October 25
Soil temp (4") 54°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.1 hrs
  1. Pick radish

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

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Radishes are one of the fastest-growing vegetables, with some varieties ready in under a month. They come in round, elongated, and large winter types.

Pendleton County, Kentucky is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 16 and the first fall frost is October 25, giving you a growing season of approximately 192 days.

At an elevation of 3,475 feet, Pendleton County receives approximately 47.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 85°F, providing good warmth for Radish during the growing season.

Pendleton County, KY (Zone 6b) Moderate season
192 days
Last Spring Frost April 16
192 growing days
First Fall Frost October 25

Pendleton County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.6-6.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (144 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 10 🍅 Harvest: May 8 – May 29
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (143 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 16 🍅 Harvest: May 14 – Jun 4
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (136 days to spare)
Transplant: May 6 🍅 Harvest: Jun 3 – Jun 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 Pendleton County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.6–6.5) overlaps with Radish's range (6.0–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Radish.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.4%). Annual compost additions will help Radish.

How to Plant Radish

0.5"
Planting Depth
2"
Between Plants
6"
Between Rows

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

Succession Planting Radish

11
successive plantings in your 192-day season

Sow every 2.4 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 20 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 16.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.5″/week
Rainfall provides
1.0″/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 Radish

Radish 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 Radish Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 3.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 4.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.2" 3.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 2.2" 3.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.2" 4.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.2" 4.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 4.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 3.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2.2" 2.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 3.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 4.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Radish 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.

Radish needs ~392 GDD — county provides 2,640 GDD Excellent fit

Radish Planting Timeline — Pendleton County, KY

Radish Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow April 2 Apr 2 – Apr 23
Harvest April 30 Apr 30 – May 21
Fall Sowing August 16 Aug 16 – Aug 30

Plant 0.5" deep · 2" apart · Rows 6" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.5"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

22–35 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

📆 Growing Season

192 days in Pendleton County

Growing Tips for Radish in Pendleton County

Direct sow Radish outdoors after April 16 in Pendleton County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 192.0-day season in Pendleton County allows multiple plantings of Radish. Sow every 11.0 days for continuous harvest.

Common pests for Radish 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 every 1-2 weeks for continuous harvest. Do not transplant. Harvest spring radishes promptly to prevent them from becoming pithy and hot.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Hyssop

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Radish in Pendleton County, KY?

Pendleton County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of April 16. Plan your Radish planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Pendleton County, KY?

Pendleton County, Kentucky is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 16 and first fall frost is October 25.

🌱

Your Pendleton County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Pendleton 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 Pendleton 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.