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When to Plant Kohlrabi in Natrona County, WY

Natrona County, Wyoming Zone 5a May

May in the garden — Natrona County, Wyoming

Each item below is timed to Natrona County, Wyoming's frost dates and soil temperatures. Skip nothing, stress about nothing.

Avg. last frost May 19
Avg. first frost September 23
Soil temp (4") 38°F
Watering High
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.5 hrs
  1. Transplant kohlrabi outside

    Harden off for 7 days — a little more sun each day — before planting. That's the difference between a seedling that thrives and one that stalls.

  2. Put kohlrabi seeds straight in the ground

    Keep the top inch of soil moist until germination — a gentle morning watering for 5–7 days does the job.

Before June arrives, get these ready
  • Starting indoors: kohlrabi

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Kohlrabi is an unusual brassica that forms a swollen stem above ground with a mild, sweet turnip-like flavor. Both the bulb and tender leaves are edible.

Natrona County, Wyoming is in USDA Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is May 19 and the first fall frost is September 23, giving you a growing season of approximately 127 days.

At an elevation of 6,332 feet, Natrona County receives approximately 13.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 83°F, so choose short-season varieties of Kohlrabi to ensure they mature before fall. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Kohlrabi successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Natrona County, WY (Zone 5a) Short season
127 days
Last Spring Frost May 19
127 growing days
First Fall Frost September 23
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Natrona County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-7.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (44 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 7 Transplant: May 12 🍅 Harvest: Jun 30 – Aug 4
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (43 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 14 Transplant: May 19 🍅 Harvest: Jul 7 – Aug 11
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (45 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 28 Transplant: Jun 2 🍅 Harvest: Jul 21 – Aug 25

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 Natrona County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.5–7.6) overlaps with Kohlrabi's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.4%). Annual compost additions will help Kohlrabi.

How to Plant Kohlrabi

0.5"
Planting Depth
4"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Kohlrabi

3
successive plantings in your 127-day season

Sow every 5.1 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 20 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 15.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.7″/week
Rainfall provides
0.5″/week
You supply
0.3″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 335 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Kohlrabi

Kohlrabi needs approximately 0.7 inches of water per week (3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Kohlrabi Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 0.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 3" 1.8" 1.2" 💧 Light watering
Jun 3" 1.1" 1.9" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 3" 1.1" 1.9" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 3" 1.5" 1.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Sep 3" 1.1" 1.9" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 1.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 0.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Kohlrabi 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.

Kohlrabi needs ~674 GDD — county provides 1,555 GDD Excellent fit

Kohlrabi Planting Timeline — Natrona County, WY

Kohlrabi Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 14 Apr 14 – Apr 28
Transplant Outdoors May 19 May 19 – Jun 2
Direct Sow May 5 May 5 – May 26
Harvest July 7 Jul 7 – Aug 11
Fall Sowing July 15 Jul 15 – Jul 29

Plant 0.5" deep · 4" apart · Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.7"/week · Only during dry spells

📅 Days to Maturity

45–65 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 5a

📆 Growing Season

127 days in Natrona County

Growing Tips for Kohlrabi in Natrona County

Direct sow Kohlrabi outdoors after May 19 in Natrona County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Kohlrabi in this region include cabbage worm and flea beetles. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Direct sow in spring or fall. Harvest when bulbs are 2-3 inches in diameter for best texture and flavor. Larger bulbs may become woody and fibrous.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Tomatoes
  • Strawberries

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Kohlrabi in Natrona County, WY?

Natrona County is in Zone 5a with an average last frost of May 19. Plan your Kohlrabi planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Natrona County, WY?

Natrona County, Wyoming is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is May 19 and first fall frost is September 23.

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Your Natrona County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Natrona 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 Natrona County, WY. 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.