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When to Plant Arugula in Douglas County, NE

Arugula is a fast-growing cool-season green with a peppery, nutty flavor. It is excellent in salads and can be harvested as baby greens or mature leaves.

Douglas County, Nebraska is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 23 and the first fall frost is October 11, giving you a growing season of approximately 171 days.

At an elevation of 575 feet, Douglas County receives approximately 28.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 85°F, providing good warmth for Arugula during the growing season.

Douglas County, NE (Zone 6a) Moderate season
171 days
Last Spring Frost April 23
171 growing days
First Fall Frost October 11

Douglas County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.0-7.0

Drainage

Well Drained

Arugula Planting Timeline — Douglas County, NE

Arugula Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 19 Mar 19 – Apr 2
Transplant Outdoors April 23 Apr 23 – May 7
Direct Sow April 9 Apr 9 – Apr 30
Harvest May 28 May 28 – Jul 30
Fall Sowing August 2 Aug 2 – Aug 16

Plant 0.5" deep · 6" apart · Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

Moderate — regular watering

📅 Days to Maturity

30–50 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: N/A

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

📆 Growing Season

171 days in Douglas County

Growing Tips for Douglas County

Sow seeds directly every 2-3 weeks for continuous harvest. Provide afternoon shade in warm weather to prevent bolting. Harvest outer leaves first to extend production.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Strawberries

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Arugula in Douglas County, NE?

Douglas County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 23. Plan your Arugula planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Douglas County, NE?

Douglas County, Nebraska is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 23 and first fall frost is October 11.

🌱

Your Douglas County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Douglas County (Zone 6a). 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 Douglas County, NE. 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.