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When to Plant Mizuna in Pope County, AR

Mizuna is a mild-flavored Japanese mustard green with feathery, deeply serrated leaves. It is fast-growing and makes an excellent addition to salads and stir-fries.

Pope County, Arkansas is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is March 28 and the first fall frost is November 1, giving you a growing season of approximately 218 days.

At an elevation of 413 feet, Pope County receives approximately 52.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 91ยฐF, providing good warmth for Mizuna during the growing season. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Mizuna root diseases.

Pope County, AR (Zone 7a) Long season
218 days
Last Spring Frost March 28
218 growing days
First Fall Frost November 1

Pope County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.7-7.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (156 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 15 Transplant: Mar 22 🍅 Harvest: Apr 26 – May 24
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (155 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 21 Transplant: Mar 28 🍅 Harvest: May 2 – May 30
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (158 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 12 Transplant: Apr 16 🍅 Harvest: May 21 – Jun 18

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 Pope County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.7โ€“7.1) overlaps with Mizuna's range (6.0โ€“7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.7%). Annual compost additions will help Mizuna.

How to Plant Mizuna

0.5"
Planting Depth
6"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

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

Succession Planting Mizuna

8
successive plantings in your 218-day season

Sow every 3.4 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 17 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 23.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
1.0″/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 Mizuna

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

Month Mizuna Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 4.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 4.4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar 4.3" 4.1" 0.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Apr 4.3" 4.2" 0.1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 4.3" 4" 0.3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jun 4.3" 4.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 5.9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 5.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 4" 0.3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct 4.3" 2.9" 1.4" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov 4.3" 4.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Dec โ€” 4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

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

Mizuna 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.

Mizuna needs ~684 GDD — county provides 3,978 GDD Excellent fit

Mizuna Planting Timeline โ€” Pope County, AR

Mizuna Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 21 Feb 21 โ€“ Mar 7
Transplant Outdoors March 28 Mar 28 โ€“ Apr 11
Direct Sow March 14 Mar 14 โ€“ Apr 4
Harvest May 2 May 2 โ€“ May 30
Fall Sowing August 23 Aug 23 โ€“ Sep 6

Plant 0.5" deep ยท 6" apart ยท Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

1"/week ยท Natural rainfall sufficient

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

30โ€“45 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7.5 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

218 days in Pope County

Growing Tips for Mizuna in Pope County

Direct sow Mizuna outdoors after March 28 in Pope County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 218.0-day season in Pope County allows multiple plantings of Mizuna. Sow every 15.0 days for continuous harvest.

Common pests for Mizuna 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. Harvest outer leaves as needed for a cut-and-come-again approach. Mizuna is one of the most cold-tolerant Asian greens.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Strawberries

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Mizuna in Pope County, AR?

Pope County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of March 28. Plan your Mizuna planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Pope County, AR?

Pope County, Arkansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is March 28 and first fall frost is November 1.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Pope County gardeners in Zone 7a 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 Pope County, AR. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.