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When to Plant Che Fruit in Bryan County, GA

Che fruit (Chinese mulberry) is a small, cold-hardy tree producing round, red fruits with a sweet, watermelon-fig flavor. It is an underutilized fruit tree with great potential.

Bryan County, Georgia is in USDA Zone 8b. The average last spring frost is March 2 and the first fall frost is November 24, giving you a growing season of approximately 267 days.

At an elevation of 193 feet, Bryan County receives approximately 54 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 92ยฐF, providing good warmth for Che Fruit during the growing season. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring โ€” great for early planting โ€” but Che Fruit will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Che Fruit root diseases.

Bryan County, GA (Zone 8b) Long season
267 days
Last Spring Frost March 2
267 growing days
First Fall Frost November 24

Bryan County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

5-6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season
Transplant: Mar 7
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season
Transplant: Mar 23
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season
Transplant: Apr 14

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 Bryan County

How your county's soil matches Che Fruit's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.0โ€“6.0) is more acidic than Che Fruit prefers (6.0โ€“7.5). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

Sandy soil in Bryan County warms quickly in spring but drains fast. Che Fruit will need more frequent watering and regular compost additions to retain nutrients.

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Che Fruit.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is low (1.8%). Add 2-3 inches of compost before planting Che Fruit.

How to Plant Che Fruit

120"
Between Plants
144"
Between Rows

Plant Water Budget

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

Monthly Watering Guide for Che Fruit

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

Month Che Fruit Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 4.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 4.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar 4.3" 5.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Apr 4.3" 4.2" 0.1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 4.3" 4.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.3" 4.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 4.9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 5.9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 4.2" 0.1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct 4.3" 3.6" 0.7" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov 4.3" 4" 0.3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Dec โ€” 4.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

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

Che Fruit 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.

Che Fruit needs ~27,740 GDD — county provides 5,073 GDD May not mature

Che Fruit Planting Timeline โ€” Bryan County, GA

Che Fruit Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors March 23 Mar 23 โ€“ Apr 6

ยท 120" apart ยท Rows 144" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March Transplant Outdoors
April Transplant Outdoors
May โ€”
June โ€”
July โ€”
August โ€”
September โ€”
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

1"/week ยท Natural rainfall sufficient

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

1095โ€“1825 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7.5 ยท Your soil: too_acidic

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 8b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

267 days in Bryan County

Growing Tips for Che Fruit in Bryan County

Direct sow Che Fruit outdoors after March 02 in Bryan County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in Bryan County dries quickly โ€” mulch Che Fruit with 2-3 inches of straw and water deeply 2-3 times per week rather than lightly every day.

Your 267.0-day growing season in Bryan County is tight for Che Fruit (1095.0-1825.0 days to maturity). Start indoors and choose early-maturing varieties.

General growing tips

Plant in well-drained soil. A male pollinator is needed for seeded fruit, but seedless fruit can set parthenocarpically. Minimal pruning required. Fruits ripen in late summer.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Che Fruit in Bryan County, GA?

Bryan County is in Zone 8b with an average last frost of March 2. Plan your Che Fruit planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Bryan County, GA?

Bryan County, Georgia is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8b. The average last spring frost is March 2 and first fall frost is November 24.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Bryan County gardeners in Zone 8b 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 Bryan County, GA. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.