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When to Plant Arugula in Hooker 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.

Hooker County, Nebraska is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 13 and the first fall frost is October 4, giving you a growing season of approximately 144 days.

At an elevation of 737 feet, Hooker County receives approximately 21.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 81°F, so choose short-season varieties of Arugula to ensure they mature before fall.

Hooker County, NE (Zone 5b) Short season
144 days
Last Spring Frost May 13
144 growing days
First Fall Frost October 4

Hooker County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.0-7.0

Drainage

Well Drained

Arugula Planting Timeline — Hooker County, NE

Arugula Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 8 Apr 8 – Apr 22
Transplant Outdoors May 13 May 13 – May 27
Direct Sow April 29 Apr 29 – May 20
Harvest June 17 Jun 17 – Aug 19
Fall Sowing July 26 Jul 26 – Aug 9

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March
April Start Indoors Direct Sow
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June Harvest
July Fall Sowing Harvest
August Fall Sowing Harvest
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 5b

📆 Growing Season

144 days in Hooker County

Growing Tips for Hooker 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 Hooker County, NE?

Hooker County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of May 13. Plan your Arugula planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Hooker County, NE?

Hooker County, Nebraska is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 13 and first fall frost is October 4.

🌱

Your Hooker County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Hooker 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.

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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 Hooker County, NE. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: July 2026.

Sources & credits

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