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When to Plant Bok Choy in Warren County, OH

Bok choy is a Chinese cabbage variety with crisp white stalks and dark green leaves. It is a fast-growing cool-season crop ideal for stir-fries and soups.

Warren County, Ohio is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 16 and the first fall frost is October 22, giving you a growing season of approximately 189 days.

At an elevation of 653 feet, Warren County receives approximately 38.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 91ยฐF, providing good warmth for Bok Choy during the growing season.

Warren County, OH (Zone 6a) Moderate season
189 days
Last Spring Frost April 16
189 growing days
First Fall Frost October 22

Warren County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6.2-6.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (113 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 6 Transplant: Apr 10 🍅 Harvest: May 22 – Jun 26
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (112 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 12 Transplant: Apr 16 🍅 Harvest: May 28 – Jul 2
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (105 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 2 Transplant: May 7 🍅 Harvest: Jun 18 – Jul 23

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 Warren County

How your county's soil matches Bok Choy's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.2โ€“6.8) is within Bok Choy's preferred range (6.0โ€“7.5).

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Warren County is excellent for Bok Choy โ€” good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.8%) โ€” Bok Choy will thrive.

How to Plant Bok Choy

1"
Planting Depth
15"
Between Plants
24"
Between Rows

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

Succession Planting Bok Choy

5
successive plantings in your 189-day season

Sow every 4.6 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 23 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 13.

Plant Water Budget

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

Water stress score is 6/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Bok Choy

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

Month Bok Choy Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 1.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 1.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 2.4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 3" 3.8" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
May 3" 4.2" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 3" 4.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3" 4.7" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3" 4.5" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3" 3.8" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 3" 2.7" 0.3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov โ€” 2.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 2.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

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

Bok Choy 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" โ€” every day above 50ยฐF 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.

Bok Choy needs ~912 GDD — county provides 3,449 GDD Excellent fit

Bok Choy Planting Timeline โ€” Warren County, OH

Bok Choy Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 12 Mar 12 โ€“ Mar 26
Transplant Outdoors April 16 Apr 16 โ€“ Apr 30
Direct Sow April 2 Apr 2 โ€“ Apr 23
Harvest May 28 May 28 โ€“ Jul 2
Fall Sowing August 13 Aug 13 โ€“ Aug 27

Plant 1" deep ยท 15" apart ยท Rows 24" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

0.7"/week ยท Natural rainfall sufficient

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

40โ€“60 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7.5 ยท Your soil: ideal

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

189 days in Warren County

Growing Tips for Bok Choy in Warren County

Direct sow Bok Choy outdoors after April 16 in Warren County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 189.0-day season in Warren County allows multiple plantings of Bok Choy. Sow every 20.0 days for continuous harvest.

Common pests for Bok Choy 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 for best results. Keep soil consistently moist. Harvest whole heads or cut outer leaves for a cut-and-come-again approach.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Strawberries

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Bok Choy in Warren County, OH?

Warren County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 16. Plan your Bok Choy planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Warren County, OH?

Warren County, Ohio is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 16 and first fall frost is October 22.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Warren County gardeners in Zone 6a 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 Warren County, OH. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.