Mitsuba Planting Guide

May

May is for mitsuba

mitsuba rewards gardeners who pay attention to a few basics. Here's what matters in May, wherever you're growing.

Sun partial shade

Water moderate

Days to harvest 50–70

Plant depth 0.5″

Spacing 8″

How to water mitsuba
About an inch of water a week keeps mitsuba happy. Check your weather forecast before watering — skip if rain is coming.
Where to put mitsuba
South-facing beds are ideal for mitsuba. Shade from nearby trees or fences costs real production.
Check your local forecast before planting
Your zone determines the exact week to plant mitsuba. Pick your county below and we'll line everything up against your frost dates.

Show me mitsuba timing for my zone →

Mitsuba (Japanese parsley) is a shade-loving herb with trefoil leaves and a mild celery-parsley flavor. It is essential in Japanese cuisine for soups, salads, and garnishes.

Cryptotaenia japonica · Vegetable · Apiaceae family · 50–70 days to maturity

Get Your Personalized Mitsuba Planting Dates

Enter your ZIP code to see exact planting dates, soil compatibility, and growing tips specific to your county.

Where Can You Grow Mitsuba?

Zone Compatibility for Mitsuba Zones 4a – 9b

1a 1b 2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b 11a 11b 12a 12b 13a 13b

Ideal (data available) Suitable Marginal Not recommended

Planting Dates by Zone

Zone	Start Indoors	Direct Sow	Transplant	Harvest
Zone 4a	Mar 25	Apr 29	Apr 29	Jun 24 – Aug 19
Zone 4b	Mar 20	Apr 24	Apr 24	Jun 19 – Aug 14
Zone 5a	Mar 21	Apr 11	Apr 18	Jun 13 – Aug 8
Zone 5b	Mar 14	Apr 4	Apr 11	Jun 6 – Aug 1
Zone 6a	Mar 6	Mar 27	Apr 3	May 29 – Jul 24
Zone 6b	Feb 27	Mar 20	Mar 27	May 22 – Jul 17
Zone 7a	Feb 18	Mar 11	Mar 18	May 13 – Jul 8
Zone 7b	Feb 11	Mar 4	Mar 11	May 6 – Jul 1
Zone 8a	Feb 1	Feb 22	Mar 1	Apr 26 – Jun 21
Zone 8b	Jan 21	Feb 11	Feb 18	Apr 15 – Jun 10
Zone 9a	Jan 13	Jan 20	Feb 3	Mar 31 – May 26
Zone 9b	Dec 28	Jan 4	Jan 18	Mar 15 – May 10

How to Plant Mitsuba

0.5"

Planting Depth

Between Plants

12"

Between Rows

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

Moderate — regular watering

Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Consistent moisture produces the best results.

🧪 Soil pH

6 – 7

Prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil — ideal for most garden beds.

🗺️ Hardiness Zones

Zone 4a – 9b

📅 Days to Maturity

50–70 days

Quick-growing crop. Multiple plantings per season are possible.

👪 Plant Family

Apiaceae

Rotate with other families yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases. Don't plant in the same spot where Apiaceae family crops grew last year.

Succession Planting Mitsuba

Mitsuba matures in just 50–70 days, making it ideal for succession planting. In a typical 180-day growing season, you can get up to 4 successive plantings by sowing every 5.7 weeks.

Your actual succession count depends on your local frost dates. Enter your ZIP code to get personalized succession planting dates for your area.

Companion Planting for Mitsuba

✅ Good Companions

Lettuce Spinach

Check more combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Growing Tips for Mitsuba

Direct sow or start indoors in partial shade. Mitsuba prefers cool, moist conditions. Harvest outer stems as needed. Self-sows readily in shaded garden areas.

Saving Mitsuba Seeds

Recommended for Your Garden

🌱

Seed Starting Trays $8-20

Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.

🧪

Soil Test Kit $12-25

Test your soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before planting.

🏷️

Garden Plant Markers $6-12

Keep your garden organized with durable, weather-resistant plant labels.

Reader favourite

Seed Saving & Storage Guide

$27 $157 value

Most saved seeds go bad before next season. This shows exactly when to pick, how to dry, and where to store seeds from 200 plants so yours don't.

200 plants, step-by-step: life cycle, pollination type, isolation
Exact temperature + humidity ranges that keep seeds viable
Bonus: searchable Google Sheets tracker + custom GPT assistant

Save a lifetime of seed money →

Mitsuba by State

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to grow Mitsuba?

Mitsuba (Cryptotaenia japonica) takes 50 to 70 days from planting to harvest. Exact timing depends on your variety, growing conditions, and USDA zone.

What zones can Mitsuba grow in?

Mitsuba can be grown in USDA zones 4a through 9b. Use the planting calendar above to find the exact dates for your zone.

How much sun does Mitsuba need?

Growing Mitsuba requires Partial Shade (3-6 hours), Moderate — regular watering, and soil pH of 6 to 7.