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When to Plant Hyssop in Cedar County, NE

Cedar County, Nebraska Zone 5a July

July in Cedar County, Nebraska — your action list

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

Avg. last frost April 30
Avg. first frost October 7
Soil temp (4") 74°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure High
Daylight 14.8 hrs
  1. Harvest hyssop as they ripen

    If you can't use it all right away, check the food-preservation section of your planner.

Before August arrives, get these ready
  • First harvests: hyssop

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Hyssop is a semi-evergreen perennial herb with intense blue flower spikes that attract bees and butterflies. It has a minty, slightly bitter flavor used in liqueurs and teas.

Cedar County, Nebraska is in USDA Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is April 30 and the first fall frost is October 7, giving you a growing season of approximately 160 days.

At an elevation of 899 feet, Cedar County receives approximately 21.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 82°F, so choose short-season varieties of Hyssop to ensure they mature before fall.

Cedar County, NE (Zone 5a) Moderate season
160 days
Last Spring Frost April 30
160 growing days
First Fall Frost October 7

Cedar County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-7.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Hyssop Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (23 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 30 🍅 Harvest: Jul 9 – Sep 10
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (20 days to spare)
Transplant: May 7 🍅 Harvest: Jul 16 – Sep 17
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (17 days to spare)
Transplant: May 22 🍅 Harvest: Jul 31 – Oct 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 Cedar County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.5–7.3) is within Hyssop's preferred range (6.0–8.0).

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.3%) — Hyssop will thrive.

How to Plant Hyssop

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

Succession Planting Hyssop

2
successive plantings in your 160-day season

Sow every 8 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 09 to harvest before frost.

Hyssop Water Budget

Plant needs
0.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.6″/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 Hyssop

Hyssop 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 Hyssop Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 0.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.2" 2.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 2.2" 2.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.2" 3.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.2" 2.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 2.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 1.8" 0.4" 💧 Light watering
Oct 2.2" 1.4" 0.8" 💧 Light watering
Nov 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Hyssop 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.

Hyssop needs ~920 GDD — county provides 1,840 GDD Excellent fit

Hyssop Planting Timeline — Cedar County, NE

Hyssop Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors May 7 May 7 – May 21
Harvest July 16 Jul 16 – Sep 17

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.5"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

70–90 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–8 · Your soil: ideal

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 5a

📆 Growing Season

160 days in Cedar County

Growing Tips for Hyssop in Cedar County

Direct sow Hyssop outdoors after April 30 in Cedar County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

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

General growing tips

Start seeds indoors or direct sow in spring. Prune back in early spring to encourage bushy growth. Hyssop is drought-tolerant once established and thrives in poor soil.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Radish

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Hyssop in Cedar County, NE?

Cedar County is in Zone 5a with an average last frost of April 30. Plan your Hyssop planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Cedar County, NE?

Cedar County, Nebraska is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is April 30 and first fall frost is October 7.

🌱

Your Cedar County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Cedar County (Zone 5a). 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 Cedar County, NE. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: July 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.