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When to Plant Mizuna in Jasper County, IL

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.

Jasper County, Illinois is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 13 and the first fall frost is October 20, giving you a growing season of approximately 190 days.

At an elevation of 1,384 feet, Jasper County receives approximately 35 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 91ยฐF, providing good warmth for Mizuna during the growing season.

Jasper County, IL (Zone 6a) Moderate season
190 days
Last Spring Frost April 13
190 growing days
First Fall Frost October 20

Jasper County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.9-7.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (127 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 3 Transplant: Apr 7 🍅 Harvest: May 12 – Jun 9
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (127 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 9 Transplant: Apr 13 🍅 Harvest: May 18 – Jun 15
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (124 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 23 Transplant: Apr 27 🍅 Harvest: Jun 1 – Jun 29

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 Jasper County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.9โ€“7.3) overlaps with Mizuna's range (6.0โ€“7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.5%) โ€” Mizuna will thrive.

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

7
successive plantings in your 190-day season

Sow every 3.4 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 05 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 11.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
You supply
0.3″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 459 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€” 1.4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 1.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 2.4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 3.1" 1.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 4.3" 4.1" 0.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jun 4.3" 4.7" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 3.3" 1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Aug 4.3" 3.5" 0.8" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Sep 4.3" 3.4" 0.9" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct 4.3" 3" 1.3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov โ€” 2.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 2.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Aprโ€“Oct in Jasper 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 3,467 GDD Excellent fit

Mizuna Planting Timeline โ€” Jasper County, IL

Mizuna Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 9 Mar 9 โ€“ Mar 23
Transplant Outdoors April 13 Apr 13 โ€“ Apr 27
Direct Sow March 30 Mar 30 โ€“ Apr 20
Harvest May 18 May 18 โ€“ Jun 15
Fall Sowing August 11 Aug 11 โ€“ Aug 25

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

1"/week ยท Only during dry spells

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

30โ€“45 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7.5 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

190 days in Jasper County

Growing Tips for Mizuna in Jasper County

Direct sow Mizuna outdoors after April 13 in Jasper County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 190.0-day season in Jasper 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 Jasper County, IL?

Jasper County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 13. Plan your Mizuna planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Jasper County, IL?

Jasper County, Illinois is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 13 and first fall frost is October 20.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Jasper 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 Jasper County, IL. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.