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When to Plant Nasturtium in Yoder, WY

Goshen County, Wyoming Zone 5a June

This month in Goshen County, Wyoming

We've pulled the most time-sensitive tasks for Goshen County, Wyoming this June and put them front and centre. Tackle them in order.

Avg. last frost May 13
Avg. first frost September 29
Soil temp (4") 52°F
Watering Critical
Pest pressure High
Daylight 15.1 hrs
  1. Start nasturtium indoors

    Your window is short. These crops want several weeks of indoor growth before they go outside.

To set up a strong July, finish these tasks
  • First harvests: 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.

Yoder, Wyoming is in USDA Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is May 13 and the first fall frost is September 29, giving you a growing season of approximately 139 days.

At an elevation of 5,820 feet, Goshen County receives approximately 15.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 84°F, so choose short-season varieties of Nasturtium to ensure they mature before fall. 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
Yoder, WY (Zone 5a) Short season
139 days
Last Spring Frost May 13
139 growing days
First Fall Frost September 29

Yoder Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.7-8.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Nasturtium Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 12 Transplant: May 17 🌸 Bloom: Jul 12 – Oct 18
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 15 Transplant: May 20 🌸 Bloom: Jul 15 – Oct 21
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 26 Transplant: May 31 🌸 Bloom: Jul 26 – Nov 1

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 Yoder

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.7–8.4) overlaps with Nasturtium's range (6.0–8.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.9%). Annual compost additions will help Nasturtium.

How to Plant Nasturtium

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

Succession Planting Nasturtium

2
successive plantings in your 139-day season

Sow every 6.3 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 26 to harvest before frost.

Nasturtium Water Budget

Plant needs
0.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.5″/week
You supply
0.0″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 38 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 — 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 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 2.2" 1.6" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
Jun 2.2" 1.1" 1.1" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 2.2" 1.3" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
Aug 2.2" 1.5" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
Sep 2.2" 1.1" 1.1" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Goshen 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 ~780 GDD — county provides 1,807 GDD Excellent fit

Nasturtium Planting Timeline — Yoder, WY

Nasturtium Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 15 Apr 15 – Apr 29
Transplant Outdoors May 20 May 20 – Jun 3
Direct Sow May 20 May 20 – Jun 10
Bloom July 15 Jul 15 – Oct 21

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.5"/week · Only during dry spells

📅 Days to Maturity

55–65 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–8 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 5a

📆 Growing Season

139 days in Goshen County

Growing Tips for Nasturtium in Yoder

Direct sow Nasturtium outdoors after May 13 in Goshen County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Goshen County receives only 16" 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 →

🌱

Your Goshen County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Goshen 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 Goshen County, WY. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: June 2026.