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When to Plant Celtuce in Scotts Bluff 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.

Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska is in USDA Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is May 13 and the first fall frost is September 25, giving you a growing season of approximately 135 days.

At an elevation of 1,080 feet, Scotts Bluff County receives approximately 32.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 83°F, so choose short-season varieties of Celtuce to ensure they mature before fall.

Scotts Bluff County, NE (Zone 5a) Short season
135 days
Last Spring Frost May 13
135 growing days
First Fall Frost September 25

Scotts Bluff County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.0-7.0

Drainage

Well Drained

Celtuce Planting Timeline — Scotts Bluff County, NE

Celtuce 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 15 Jul 15 – Aug 26
Fall Sowing July 17 Jul 17 – Jul 31

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
July Fall Sowing Harvest
August 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 5a

📆 Growing Season

135 days in Scotts Bluff County

Growing Tips for Scotts Bluff 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 Scotts Bluff County, NE?

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

What planting zone is Scotts Bluff County, NE?

Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is May 13 and first fall frost is September 25.

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Your Scotts Bluff County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Scotts Bluff County (Zone 5a). 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 Scotts Bluff County, NE. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: July 2026.

Sources & credits

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