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When to plant Lobelia in Wright County County,

In Wright County County, Lobelia is a spring-only crop. Plant March 21–April 4 once soil hits 50°F.

When to Plant Lobelia in Wright County, MO

Wright County, Missouri Zone 7a June

June to-do list for Wright County, Missouri

A quick June briefing for Wright County, Missouri gardeners — what's urgent, what's next, and what can wait.

Avg. last frost April 11
Avg. first frost October 22
Soil temp (4") 74°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure High
Daylight 14.6 hrs
  1. Sow lobelia in trays indoors

    Give them 6–8 weeks indoors before the last frost and you'll transplant into warm soil with seedlings that are already leaping.

  2. Basket week: lobelia

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

Coming up in July — start thinking about
  • First harvests: lobelia

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Lobelia (Lobelia erinus) is a cool-season annual prized for the intense cobalt blue that is rare among bedding flowers. It blooms most prolifically in spring and early summer but stalls or dies back during heat peaks above 90°F. In zones 3–7 it delivers a long display; in zones 8–9 it is best treated as a spring annual that fades by midsummer. Trailing types cascade beautifully from containers and window boxes.

Wright County, Missouri is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 11 and the first fall frost is October 22, giving you a growing season of approximately 194 days.

At an elevation of 923 feet, Wright County receives approximately 32.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 86°F, providing good warmth for Lobelia during the growing season.

Annual Blooms in Spring Pollinator-friendly
Wright County, MO (Zone 7a) Moderate season
194 days
Last Spring Frost April 11
194 growing days
First Fall Frost October 22

Wright County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.5-7

Drainage

Well Drained

Lobelia Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (75 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 1 Transplant: Mar 15 🌸 Bloom: May 10 – Aug 2
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (75 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 7 Transplant: Mar 21 🌸 Bloom: May 16 – Aug 8
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (75 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 21 Transplant: Apr 4 🌸 Bloom: May 30 – Aug 22

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 Wright County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.5–7.0) overlaps with Lobelia's range (6.0–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.8%). Annual compost additions will help Lobelia.

How to Plant Lobelia

6"
Between Plants
8"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Lobelia

3
successive plantings in your 194-day season

Sow every 8 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 03 to harvest before frost.

Lobelia Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/week
You supply
0.4″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 619 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Lobelia

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

Month Lobelia Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 3" 1.3" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 4" 0.3" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 3.9" 0.4" 💧 Light watering
Jul 4.3" 3.5" 0.8" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.3" 3.5" 0.8" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2.5" 1.8" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 2.5" 1.8" 💧 Light watering
Nov 2.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Lobelia 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.

Lobelia needs ~1,088 GDD — county provides 2,813 GDD Excellent fit

Lobelia Planting Timeline — Wright County, MO

Lobelia Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 7 Feb 7 – Feb 21
Transplant Outdoors March 21 Mar 21 – Apr 4
Bloom May 16 May 16 – Aug 8

· 6" apart · Rows 8" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

70–80 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

📆 Growing Season

194 days in Wright County

Growing Tips for Lobelia in Wright County

Direct sow Lobelia outdoors after April 11 in Wright County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

General growing tips

Start seeds indoors 10–12 weeks before last frost — seed is dust-fine and requires light to germinate; surface-sow and press gently. Keep at 65–70°F. Not reliably direct-sown. Transplant in cool weather, 2–4 weeks before last frost date is acceptable in zones 5+. Shear plants by one-third after the first bloom flush to encourage a second flush in fall. Provide afternoon shade in zones 7+ to extend bloom into summer.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Lobelia in Wright County, MO?

Wright County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 11. Plan your Lobelia planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Wright County, MO?

Wright County, Missouri is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 11 and first fall frost is October 22.

When should I plant Lobelia in Wright County, ?

In Wright County, , plant Lobelia after the last frost (around April 11) and before the first frost (around October 22). Best results when soil holds above 50°F.

What growing zone is Wright County, for Lobelia?

Wright County sits in USDA Zone 7a. Lobelia grows reliably in zones 3a through 9b, so it's a good fit here.

Can Lobelia grow in Wright County's climate?

Yes — Lobelia grows well in Wright County's temperate climate. Wright County averages a 194-day frost-free season, with last frost around April 11 and first frost around October 22.

🌱

Your Wright County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Wright 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 Wright County, MO. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: June 2026.

Sources & credits

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