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When to Plant Nasturtium 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. Time to transplant nasturtium

    Water the tray well an hour before you transplant. Roots slide out cleanly and settle in faster.

  2. Outdoor sowing time: nasturtium

    Mark the row. Birds and stray feet both have opinions about unmarked beds.

Get ahead of July
  • Starting indoors: nasturtium

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Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) is a fast-growing annual with distinctive round, lily-pad leaves and bold trumpet-shaped blooms in warm oranges, reds, and yellows. Both the flowers and leaves are edible with a peppery watercress flavor. Planted near vegetables, nasturtiums act as a sacrifice trap-crop, luring aphids away from more valuable plants. They thrive in poor, dry soil — rich conditions produce lush foliage but few flowers.

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 Nasturtium during the growing season. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring — great for early planting — but Nasturtium will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Nasturtium successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

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

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

6.7-8.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Nasturtium Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: May 10 Transplant: Jun 14 🌸 Bloom: Aug 9 – Nov 29
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: May 15 Transplant: Jun 19 🌸 Bloom: Aug 14 – Dec 4
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: May 24 Transplant: Jun 28 🌸 Bloom: Aug 23 – Dec 13

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 Nasturtium's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.7–8.3) overlaps with Nasturtium's range (6.0–8.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Nasturtium.

Organic Matter

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

How to Plant Nasturtium

0.5"
Planting Depth
10"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Nasturtium Water Budget

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

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

Monthly Watering Guide for Nasturtium

Nasturtium 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 Nasturtium 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 2.2" 0.5" 1.7" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 2.2" 2.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 3.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 2.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
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.

Nasturtium 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.

Nasturtium needs ~1,095 GDD — county provides 1,679 GDD Excellent fit

Nasturtium Planting Timeline — White Pine County, NV

Nasturtium Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors May 15 May 15 – May 29
Transplant Outdoors June 19 Jun 19 – Jul 3
Direct Sow June 19 Jun 19 – Jul 10
Bloom August 14 Aug 14 – Dec 4

Plant 0.5" deep · 10" apart · Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.5"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

55–65 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–8 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

📆 Growing Season

92 days in White Pine County

Growing Tips for Nasturtium in White Pine County

Direct sow Nasturtium 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 Nasturtium with 2-3 inches of straw and water deeply 2-3 times per week rather than lightly every day.

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

General growing tips

Direct-sow large seeds 1/2 inch deep after last frost; soak seeds overnight to speed germination (7-10 days). Nasturtiums dislike root disturbance so direct sowing is strongly preferred. Avoid fertilizing — poor soil brings the best bloom. Trailing types can cover banks and climb trellises; dwarf types suit containers. In hot climates (zones 9+) plant in fall for winter/spring bloom as plants struggle in peak summer heat.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Fennel

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Nasturtium in White Pine County, NV?

White Pine County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of June 12. Plan your Nasturtium 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.