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When to Plant Cress in Frontier County, NE

Garden cress is one of the fastest-growing edibles, producing peppery sprouts in as little as two weeks. It is excellent for microgreens and garnishes.

Frontier County, Nebraska is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 2 and the first fall frost is October 6, giving you a growing season of approximately 157 days.

At an elevation of 1,066 feet, Frontier County receives approximately 34.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 84°F, so choose short-season varieties of Cress to ensure they mature before fall.

Frontier County, NE (Zone 5b) Moderate season
157 days
Last Spring Frost May 2
157 growing days
First Fall Frost October 6

Frontier County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.0-7.0

Drainage

Well Drained

Cress Planting Timeline — Frontier County, NE

Cress Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 28 Mar 28 – Apr 11
Transplant Outdoors May 2 May 2 – May 16
Direct Sow April 18 Apr 18 – May 9
Harvest May 16 May 16 – Jun 6
Fall Sowing July 28 Jul 28 – Aug 11

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

Moderate — regular watering

📅 Days to Maturity

14–21 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: N/A

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 5b

📆 Growing Season

157 days in Frontier County

Growing Tips for Frontier County

Sow seeds thickly on moist soil or paper towels. Keep moist and harvest when 2-3 inches tall. Succession sow every few days for continuous supply. Grows well indoors year-round.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Cress in Frontier County, NE?

Frontier County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of May 2. Plan your Cress planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Frontier County, NE?

Frontier County, Nebraska is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 2 and first fall frost is October 6.

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Your Frontier County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Frontier 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 Frontier 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.