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When to Plant Bleeding Hearts in White Pine County, NV

White Pine County, Nevada Zone 6a June

White Pine County, Nevada gardeners: here's your June plan

June is a pivotal month for White Pine County, Nevada gardens. Focus on these tasks first and you'll set up the rest of the season for success.

Avg. last frost June 12
Avg. first frost September 12
Soil temp (4") 50°F
Watering Critical
Pest pressure High
Daylight 14.8 hrs
  1. Plant out bleeding hearts

    Bring a watering can to the bed. Each transplant gets a drink the moment it's in the ground, not ten minutes later.

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Bleeding Hearts (Lamprocapnos spectabilis) are elegant woodland perennials producing arching stems hung with distinctive heart-shaped pink or white flowers with protruding inner petals — the "drops" beneath each heart. A beloved heirloom perennial from Asia, bleeding hearts emerge vigorously in spring, bloom prolifically for 4–6 weeks, and then go dormant in summer heat — a natural die-back that is entirely normal. The dormancy gap should be planned for by interplanting with summer-emerging hostas, ferns, or impatiens. Fringed bleeding heart (Dicentra eximia), a US native, has a longer bloom season and does not go fully dormant. All parts are toxic if ingested.

White Pine County, Nevada is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is June 12 and the first fall frost is September 12, giving you a growing season of approximately 92 days.

At an elevation of 6,766 feet, White Pine County receives approximately 15 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 91°F, providing good warmth for Bleeding Hearts during the growing season. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring — great for early planting — but Bleeding Hearts will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Bleeding Hearts successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Perennial Blooms in Spring Pollinator-friendly Deer-resistant Good for cutting
White Pine County, NV (Zone 6a) Very short season
92 days
Last Spring Frost June 12
92 growing days
First Fall Frost September 12

White Pine County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

6.7-8.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Bleeding Hearts Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 5 Transplant: Jun 14 🌸 Bloom: Aug 9 – Sep 13
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 10 Transplant: Jun 19 🌸 Bloom: Aug 14 – Sep 18
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (7 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 19 Transplant: Jun 28 🌸 Bloom: Aug 23 – Sep 27

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 White Pine County

How your county's soil matches Bleeding Hearts's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.7–8.3) is more alkaline than Bleeding Hearts prefers (6.0–7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

Sandy soil in White Pine County warms quickly in spring but drains fast. Bleeding Hearts will need more frequent watering and regular compost additions to retain nutrients.

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Bleeding Hearts.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is low (0.8%). Add 2-3 inches of compost before planting Bleeding Hearts.

How to Plant Bleeding Hearts

1.5"
Planting Depth
24"
Between Plants
30"
Between Rows

Bleeding Hearts Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/week
You supply
0.7″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 604 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Monthly Watering Guide for Bleeding Hearts

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

Month Bleeding Hearts Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 0.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 0.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 0.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 0.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Jun 4.3" 0.5" 3.8" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 2.5" 1.8" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.3" 3.1" 1.2" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2.2" 2.1" 💧 Light watering
Oct 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 0.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Bleeding Hearts 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.

Bleeding Hearts needs ~1,369 GDD — county provides 1,679 GDD Good fit

Bleeding Hearts Planting Timeline — White Pine County, NV

Bleeding Hearts Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 10 Apr 10 – Apr 24
Transplant Outdoors June 19 Jun 19 – Jul 3
Bloom August 14 Aug 14 – Sep 18

Plant 1.5" deep · 24" apart · Rows 30" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March
April Start Indoors
May
June Transplant Outdoors
July Transplant Outdoors
August Bloom
September Bloom
October
November
December

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · 2-3 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

60–90 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: too_alkaline

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

📆 Growing Season

92 days in White Pine County

Growing Tips for Bleeding Hearts in White Pine County

Direct sow Bleeding Hearts outdoors after June 12 in White Pine County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in White Pine County dries quickly — mulch Bleeding Hearts with 2-3 inches of straw and water deeply 2-3 times per week rather than lightly every day.

Your 92.0-day growing season in White Pine County is tight for Bleeding Hearts (60.0-90.0 days to maturity). Start indoors and choose early-maturing varieties.

White Pine County receives only 15" of rain annually. Bleeding Hearts needs consistent moisture — install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

General growing tips

Plant bare-root crowns in early spring as soon as soil is workable, or in fall at least 6 weeks before hard freeze. Set eyes 1–2 inches below soil level. Morning sun with afternoon shade is ideal; deep shade is tolerated but reduces bloom. Keep moist but well-drained — will not tolerate waterlogged soil. After flowering, the foliage will yellow and die back in summer heat — this is normal. Do not cut back until foliage turns fully yellow; the plant is storing energy. Mark the location to avoid disturbing crowns during summer dormancy. Divide every 4–5 years in early spring. Year 2+ plants produce the fullest flowering display.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Bleeding Hearts in White Pine County, NV?

White Pine County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of June 12. Plan your Bleeding Hearts planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is White Pine County, NV?

White Pine County, Nevada is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is June 12 and first fall frost is September 12.

🌱

Your White Pine County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for White Pine 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 White Pine County, NV. 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.