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When to Plant Celtuce in Webster 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.

Webster County, Nebraska is in USDA Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is April 26 and the first fall frost is October 12, giving you a growing season of approximately 169 days.

At an elevation of 925 feet, Webster County receives approximately 23.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 87ยฐF, providing good warmth for Celtuce during the growing season.

Webster County, NE (Zone 5a) Moderate season
169 days
Last Spring Frost April 26
169 growing days
First Fall Frost October 12

Webster County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.7-7.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Monthly Watering Guide for Celtuce

Celtuce needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Celtuce Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 0.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 0.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 1.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 2.3" 2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 4.3" 3.2" 1.1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jun 4.3" 4.2" 0.1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jul 4.3" 2.7" 1.6" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Aug 4.3" 2.9" 1.4" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2" 2.3" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Oct 4.3" 1.4" 2.9" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Nov โ€” 0.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 0.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Aprโ€“Oct in Webster County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Celtuce Planting Timeline โ€” Webster County, NE

Celtuce Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 22 Mar 22 โ€“ Apr 5
Transplant Outdoors April 26 Apr 26 โ€“ May 10
Direct Sow April 12 Apr 12 โ€“ May 3
Harvest June 28 Jun 28 โ€“ Aug 9
Fall Sowing August 3 Aug 3 โ€“ Aug 17

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

60โ€“90 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: N/A

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 5a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

169 days in Webster County

Growing Tips for Webster 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 Webster County, NE?

Webster County is in Zone 5a with an average last frost of April 26. Plan your Celtuce planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Webster County, NE?

Webster County, Nebraska is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is April 26 and first fall frost is October 12.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Webster County gardeners in Zone 5a organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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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 Webster County, NE. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.