Blog

When to Plant Savory in Richardson County, NE

Richardson County, Nebraska Zone 6a May

Top priorities for Richardson County, Nebraska gardeners in May

If you only do a handful of things in the garden this May, make it these. They're sequenced around your zone's frost timing.

Avg. last frost April 23
Avg. first frost October 11
Soil temp (4") 58°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.2 hrs
June will be here before you know it — start on
  • First harvests: savory

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

Summer savory is an annual herb with a peppery, thyme-like flavor that pairs especially well with beans. Winter savory is a perennial with a stronger 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 Savory 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
Share this guide:

Richardson County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.6-7.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (52 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 24 🍅 Harvest: Jun 19 – Aug 14
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (52 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 30 🍅 Harvest: Jun 25 – Aug 20
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (51 days to spare)
Transplant: May 16 🍅 Harvest: Jul 11 – Sep 5

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 Richardson County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.6–7.3) is within Savory's preferred range (6.5–7.5).

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.9%). Annual compost additions will help Savory.

How to Plant Savory

0.5"
Planting Depth
8"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Savory

4
successive plantings in your 171-day season

Sow every 5.7 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 02 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

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

Water stress score is 6/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Savory

Savory needs approximately 0.5 inches of water per week (2.2" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Savory Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 0.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.2" 3.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 2.2" 4.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.2" 5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.2" 4.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 3.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 3.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2.2" 1.9" 0.3" 💧 Light watering
Nov 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Savory 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.

Savory needs ~870 GDD — county provides 2,479 GDD Excellent fit

Savory Planting Timeline — Richardson County, NE

Savory Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors April 30 Apr 30 – May 14
Harvest June 25 Jun 25 – Aug 20

Plant 0.5" deep · 8" apart · Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March
April Transplant Outdoors
May Transplant Outdoors
June Harvest
July Harvest
August Harvest
September
October
November
December
Share this guide:

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.5"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

50–70 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6.5–7.5 · Your soil: ideal

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

📆 Growing Season

171 days in Richardson County

Growing Tips for Savory in Richardson County

Direct sow Savory outdoors after April 23 in Richardson County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

General growing tips

Direct sow summer savory after last frost. Plant winter savory from divisions or cuttings. Harvest stems before flowering for best flavor. Use fresh or dried.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Savory in Richardson County, NE?

Richardson County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 23. Plan your Savory 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.

🌱

Your Richardson County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-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.

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 Richardson 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.