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When to Plant Celtuce in Richardson County, NE

Celtuce (stem lettuce) is a Chinese vegetable grown for its thick, crunchy stem rather than its leaves. The peeled stem has a mild, cucumber-like flavor.

Richardson 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 761 feet, Richardson County receives approximately 33.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 86°F, providing good warmth for Celtuce during the growing season.

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

Richardson County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.0-7.0

Drainage

Well Drained

Celtuce Planting Timeline — Richardson County, NE

Celtuce 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 June 25 Jun 25 – Aug 6
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
June Harvest
July Harvest
August Fall Sowing Harvest
September
October
November
December

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

Moderate — regular watering

📅 Days to Maturity

60–90 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: N/A

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

📆 Growing Season

171 days in Richardson County

Growing Tips for Richardson County

Direct sow in spring or start indoors. Space 12 inches apart. Harvest when stems are about 1 inch in diameter. Peel the tough outer skin to reveal the tender center.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Celtuce in Richardson County, NE?

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

What planting zone is Richardson County, NE?

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

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Your Richardson County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Richardson 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 Richardson 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.