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When to Plant Microgreens in Worth County, MO

Worth County, Missouri Zone 5b May

This month in Worth County, Missouri

Here's what deserves your attention in Worth County, Missouri this month. Everything below is tailored to Zone 5b and timed around your local frost dates.

Avg. last frost April 22
Avg. first frost October 13
Soil temp (4") 58°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.2 hrs
  1. Indoor seed-starting week for microgreens

    Your window is short. These crops want several weeks of indoor growth before they go outside.

  2. Start harvesting microgreens

    This is the payoff month. Bring a basket, bring a friend, and get into the beds.

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Microgreens are young seedlings of vegetables and herbs harvested at the cotyledon or first true leaf stage. They pack concentrated flavors and nutrients in a tiny package.

Worth County, Missouri is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 22 and the first fall frost is October 13, giving you a growing season of approximately 174 days.

At an elevation of 578 feet, Worth County receives approximately 33.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 84°F, so choose short-season varieties of Microgreens to ensure they mature before fall.

Worth County, MO (Zone 5b) Moderate season
174 days
Last Spring Frost April 22
174 growing days
First Fall Frost October 13
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Worth County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.3-7.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (139 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 11 Transplant: Apr 15 🍅 Harvest: Apr 22 – May 20
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (139 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 18 Transplant: Apr 22 🍅 Harvest: Apr 29 – May 27
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (139 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 1 Transplant: May 6 🍅 Harvest: May 13 – Jun 10

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 Worth County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.3–7.1) overlaps with Microgreens's range (6.0–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Microgreens.

Organic Matter

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

How to Plant Microgreens

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 Microgreens

34
successive plantings in your 174-day season

Sow every 0.7 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 22 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 04.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/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 Microgreens

Microgreens needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Microgreens Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 3.5" 0.8" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 3.6" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 3.8" 0.5" 💧 Light watering
Jul 4.3" 3.4" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.3" 3.8" 0.5" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 3" 1.3" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 2.5" 1.8" 💧 Light watering
Nov 2.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Microgreens 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.

Microgreens needs ~182 GDD — county provides 2,262 GDD Excellent fit

Microgreens Planting Timeline — Worth County, MO

Microgreens Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 18 Mar 18 – Apr 1
Transplant Outdoors April 22 Apr 22 – May 6
Direct Sow April 8 Apr 8 – Apr 29
Harvest April 29 Apr 29 – May 27
Fall Sowing August 4 Aug 4 – Aug 18

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

7–21 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 5b

📆 Growing Season

174 days in Worth County

Growing Tips for Microgreens in Worth County

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

Your generous 174.0-day season in Worth County allows multiple plantings of Microgreens. Sow every 3.0 days for continuous harvest.

General growing tips

Sow seeds densely on shallow trays of moist growing medium. Cover until germination, then provide light. Harvest with scissors when 1-3 inches tall. Grow year-round indoors.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Microgreens in Worth County, MO?

Worth County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of April 22. Plan your Microgreens planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Worth County, MO?

Worth County, Missouri is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 22 and first fall frost is October 13.

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Your Worth County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Worth County (Zone 5b). 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 Worth County, MO. 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.