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When to Plant Savory in Butler County, NE

Butler County, Nebraska Zone 5b May

May in the garden — Butler County, Nebraska

Each item below is timed to Butler County, Nebraska's frost dates and soil temperatures. Skip nothing, stress about nothing.

Avg. last frost April 23
Avg. first frost October 10
Soil temp (4") 60°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.3 hrs
Get ahead of June
  • First harvests: savory

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Summer savory is an annual herb with a peppery, thyme-like flavor that pairs especially well with beans. Winter savory is a perennial with a stronger flavor.

Butler County, Nebraska is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 23 and the first fall frost is October 10, giving you a growing season of approximately 170 days.

At an elevation of 837 feet, Butler County receives approximately 20.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 84°F, so choose short-season varieties of Savory to ensure they mature before fall.

Butler County, NE (Zone 5b) Moderate season
170 days
Last Spring Frost April 23
170 growing days
First Fall Frost October 10

Butler County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-7.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (53 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 24 🍅 Harvest: Jun 19 – Aug 14
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (51 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 30 🍅 Harvest: Jun 25 – Aug 20
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (47 days to spare)
Transplant: May 18 🍅 Harvest: Jul 13 – Sep 7

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 Butler County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.5–7.2) is within Savory's preferred range (6.5–7.5).

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Butler County is excellent for Savory — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.1%) — Savory will thrive.

How to Plant Savory

0.5"
Planting Depth
8"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Savory

4
successive plantings in your 170-day season

Sow every 5.7 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 01 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

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

Monthly Watering Guide for Savory

Savory 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 Savory Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 0.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.2" 2.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 2.2" 3.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.2" 3.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.2" 2.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 2.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 2.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2.2" 1.3" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
Nov 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Savory 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.

Savory needs ~780 GDD — county provides 2,210 GDD Excellent fit

Savory Planting Timeline — Butler County, NE

Savory Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors April 30 Apr 30 – May 14
Harvest June 25 Jun 25 – Aug 20

Plant 0.5" deep · 8" apart · Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March
April Transplant Outdoors
May Transplant Outdoors
June Harvest
July Harvest
August Harvest
September
October
November
December

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.5"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

50–70 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6.5–7.5 · Your soil: ideal

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 5b

📆 Growing Season

170 days in Butler County

Growing Tips for Savory in Butler County

Direct sow Savory outdoors after April 23 in Butler County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Butler County receives only 21" of rain annually. Savory needs consistent moisture — install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

General growing tips

Direct sow summer savory after last frost. Plant winter savory from divisions or cuttings. Harvest stems before flowering for best flavor. Use fresh or dried.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Savory in Butler County, NE?

Butler County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of April 23. Plan your Savory planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Butler County, NE?

Butler County, Nebraska is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 23 and first fall frost is October 10.

🌱

Your Butler County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Butler 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.

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 Butler County, NE. 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.