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When to plant Nasturtium in Perry County County,

Perry County County's climate puts the Nasturtium spring window between April 22 and May 13. most warm-season crops establish quickly once soil holds above 60°F.

When to Plant Nasturtium in Perry County, KY

Perry County, Kentucky Zone 7a June

Your June planting checklist for Perry County, Kentucky

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

Avg. last frost April 22
Avg. first frost October 20
Soil temp (4") 63°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure High
Daylight 14.5 hrs
  1. It's harvest week for nasturtium

    The more you pick, the more the plant produces. Letting fruit overripen tells the plant it's time to stop.

Looking ahead to July
  • First harvests: nasturtium

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Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) is a fast-growing annual with distinctive round, lily-pad leaves and bold trumpet-shaped blooms in warm oranges, reds, and yellows. Both the flowers and leaves are edible with a peppery watercress flavor. Planted near vegetables, nasturtiums act as a sacrifice trap-crop, luring aphids away from more valuable plants. They thrive in poor, dry soil — rich conditions produce lush foliage but few flowers.

Perry County, Kentucky is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 22 and the first fall frost is October 20, giving you a growing season of approximately 181 days.

At an elevation of 3,675 feet, Perry County receives approximately 43.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 86°F, providing good warmth for Nasturtium during the growing season.

Annual Blooms in Multi-season Pollinator-friendly Deer-resistant Good for cutting Fragrant
Perry County, KY (Zone 7a) Moderate season
181 days
Last Spring Frost April 22
181 growing days
First Fall Frost October 20

Perry County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.6-6.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Nasturtium Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (3 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 18 Transplant: Apr 15 🌸 Bloom: Jun 10 – Oct 14
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Mar 25 Transplant: Apr 22 🌸 Bloom: Jun 17 – Oct 21
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 6 Transplant: May 4 🌸 Bloom: Jun 29 – Nov 2

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 Perry County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.6–6.7) overlaps with Nasturtium's range (6.0–8.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.6%). Annual compost additions will help Nasturtium.

How to Plant Nasturtium

0.5"
Planting Depth
10"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Nasturtium

3
successive plantings in your 181-day season

Sow every 6.3 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 16 to harvest before frost.

Nasturtium Water Budget

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

Monthly Watering Guide for Nasturtium

Nasturtium 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 Nasturtium Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 3.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 3.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 4.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.2" 2.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 2.2" 3.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.2" 3.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.2" 4.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 3.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 3.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2.2" 2.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 3.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 3.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Nasturtium 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.

Nasturtium needs ~870 GDD — county provides 2,624 GDD Excellent fit

Nasturtium Planting Timeline — Perry County, KY

Nasturtium Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 25 Mar 25 – Apr 8
Transplant Outdoors April 22 Apr 22 – May 6
Direct Sow April 22 Apr 22 – May 13
Bloom June 17 Jun 17 – Oct 21

Plant 0.5" deep · 10" apart · Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.5"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

55–65 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–8 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

📆 Growing Season

181 days in Perry County

Growing Tips for Nasturtium in Perry County

Direct sow Nasturtium outdoors after April 22 in Perry County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

General growing tips

Direct-sow large seeds 1/2 inch deep after last frost; soak seeds overnight to speed germination (7-10 days). Nasturtiums dislike root disturbance so direct sowing is strongly preferred. Avoid fertilizing — poor soil brings the best bloom. Trailing types can cover banks and climb trellises; dwarf types suit containers. In hot climates (zones 9+) plant in fall for winter/spring bloom as plants struggle in peak summer heat.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Fennel

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Nasturtium in Perry County, KY?

Perry County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 22. Plan your Nasturtium planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Perry County, KY?

Perry County, Kentucky is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 22 and first fall frost is October 20.

When should I plant Nasturtium in Perry County, ?

In Perry County, , plant Nasturtium after the last frost (around April 22) and before the first frost (around October 20). Best results when soil holds above 50°F.

What growing zone is Perry County, for Nasturtium?

Perry County sits in USDA Zone 7a. Nasturtium grows reliably in zones 2a through 11b, so it's a good fit here.

Can Nasturtium grow in Perry County's climate?

Yes — Nasturtium grows well in Perry County's temperate climate. Perry County averages a 181-day frost-free season, with last frost around April 22 and first frost around October 20.

🌱

Your Perry County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Perry 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.

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Perry County, KY. 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.