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When to Plant Mitsuba in Carbon County, MT

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.

Carbon County, Montana is in USDA Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is May 13 and the first fall frost is September 28, giving you a growing season of approximately 138 days.

At an elevation of 5,849 feet, Carbon County receives approximately 23.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 83ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Mitsuba to ensure they mature before fall.

Carbon County, MT (Zone 4b) Short season
138 days
Last Spring Frost May 13
138 growing days
First Fall Frost September 28

Carbon County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.8-8.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (31 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 26 Transplant: Apr 30 🍅 Harvest: Jun 25 – Aug 20
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (33 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 1 Transplant: May 6 🍅 Harvest: Jul 1 – Aug 26
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (21 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 29 Transplant: Jun 3 🍅 Harvest: Jul 29 – Sep 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.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/week
You supply
0.4″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 429 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Mitsuba needs ~735 GDD — county provides 1,690 GDD Excellent fit

Mitsuba Planting Timeline โ€” Carbon County, MT

Mitsuba Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 1 Apr 1 โ€“ Apr 15
Transplant Outdoors May 6 May 6 โ€“ May 20
Direct Sow May 6 May 6 โ€“ May 27
Fall Sowing July 6 Jul 6 โ€“ Jul 20
Harvest July 1 Jul 1 โ€“ Aug 26

Plant 0.5" deep ยท 8" apart ยท Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

Days to Maturity

50โ€“70 days

Soil pH

6 โ€“ 7

USDA Zone

Zone 4b

Growing Season

138 days

Growing Tips for Carbon County

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.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Level Up Your Garden

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Mitsuba in Carbon County, MT?

Carbon County is in Zone 4b with an average last frost of May 13. Plan your Mitsuba planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Carbon County, MT?

Carbon County, Montana is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is May 13 and first fall frost is September 28.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Carbon County gardeners in Zone 4b 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 Carbon County, MT. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.