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When to Plant Kohlrabi in Logan County, NE

Logan County, Nebraska Zone 5b May

Top priorities for Logan County, Nebraska gardeners in May

May is a pivotal month for Logan County, Nebraska gardens. Focus on these tasks first and you'll set up the rest of the season for success.

Avg. last frost May 13
Avg. first frost October 2
Soil temp (4") 54°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.3 hrs
  1. Harden off and plant kohlrabi

    Plant tomatoes deep — bury the stem up to the first true leaves to grow extra roots. Everything else goes in at the same depth it grew in the tray.

Looking ahead to June
  • Starting indoors: kohlrabi

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Kohlrabi is an unusual brassica that forms a swollen stem above ground with a mild, sweet turnip-like flavor. Both the bulb and tender leaves are edible.

Logan County, Nebraska is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 13 and the first fall frost is October 2, giving you a growing season of approximately 142 days.

At an elevation of 854 feet, Logan County receives approximately 30.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 82°F, so choose short-season varieties of Kohlrabi to ensure they mature before fall.

Logan County, NE (Zone 5b) Short season
142 days
Last Spring Frost May 13
142 growing days
First Fall Frost October 2

Logan County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.8-7.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (57 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 2 Transplant: May 7 🍅 Harvest: Jun 25 – Jul 30
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (58 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 8 Transplant: May 13 🍅 Harvest: Jul 1 – Aug 5
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (60 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 17 Transplant: May 22 🍅 Harvest: Jul 10 – Aug 14

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 Logan County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.8–7.2) is within Kohlrabi's preferred range (6.0–7.5).

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.5%). Annual compost additions will help Kohlrabi.

How to Plant Kohlrabi

0.5"
Planting Depth
4"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Kohlrabi

3
successive plantings in your 142-day season

Sow every 5.1 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 29 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 24.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.7″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Kohlrabi

Kohlrabi needs approximately 0.7 inches of water per week (3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Kohlrabi Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 2.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 3.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 3" 3.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 3" 2.1" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
Jul 3" 2.6" 0.4" 💧 Light watering
Aug 3" 3.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3" 2.5" 0.5" 💧 Light watering
Oct 3" 2.6" 0.4" 💧 Light watering
Nov 2.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Kohlrabi 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.

Kohlrabi needs ~632 GDD — county provides 1,633 GDD Excellent fit

Kohlrabi Planting Timeline — Logan County, NE

Kohlrabi 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 July 1 Jul 1 – Aug 5
Fall Sowing July 24 Jul 24 – Aug 7

Plant 0.5" deep · 4" apart · Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.7"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

45–65 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: ideal

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 5b

📆 Growing Season

142 days in Logan County

Growing Tips for Kohlrabi in Logan County

Direct sow Kohlrabi outdoors after May 13 in Logan County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Kohlrabi in this region include cabbage worm and flea beetles. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Direct sow in spring or fall. Harvest when bulbs are 2-3 inches in diameter for best texture and flavor. Larger bulbs may become woody and fibrous.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Tomatoes
  • Strawberries

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Kohlrabi in Logan County, NE?

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

What planting zone is Logan County, NE?

Logan County, Nebraska is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 13 and first fall frost is October 2.

🌱

Your Logan County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Logan 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 Logan 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.