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When to Plant Mizuna in Jefferson County, OR

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.

Jefferson County, Oregon is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is June 9 and the first fall frost is September 19, giving you a growing season of approximately 102 days.

At an elevation of 21 feet, Jefferson County receives approximately 36.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 79ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Mizuna to ensure they mature before fall.

Jefferson County, OR (Zone 6a) Short season
102 days
Last Spring Frost June 9
102 growing days
First Fall Frost September 19

Jefferson County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.3-6.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (40 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 25 Transplant: May 30 🍅 Harvest: Jul 4 – Aug 1
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (39 days to spare)
Start indoors: May 5 Transplant: Jun 9 🍅 Harvest: Jul 14 – Aug 11
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (43 days to spare)
Start indoors: May 18 Transplant: Jun 22 🍅 Harvest: Jul 27 – Aug 24

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 Jefferson County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.3โ€“6.7) overlaps with Mizuna's range (6.0โ€“7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (5.0%) 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

4
successive plantings in your 102-day season

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

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 11.

Plant Water Budget

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

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€” 4.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 3.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 3.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr โ€” 2.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
May โ€” 1.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Jun 4.3" 1.6" 2.7" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 0.5" 3.8" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Aug 4.3" 0.6" 3.7" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Sep 4.3" 1.6" 2.7" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Oct โ€” 3.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Nov โ€” 6.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 5.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Junโ€“Sep in Jefferson 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 ~347 GDD — county provides 943 GDD Excellent fit

Mizuna Planting Timeline โ€” Jefferson County, OR

Mizuna Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors May 5 May 5 โ€“ May 19
Transplant Outdoors June 9 Jun 9 โ€“ Jun 23
Direct Sow May 26 May 26 โ€“ Jun 16
Harvest July 14 Jul 14 โ€“ Aug 11
Fall Sowing July 11 Jul 11 โ€“ Jul 25

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March โ€”
April โ€”
May Start Indoors Direct Sow
June Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
July Fall Sowing Harvest
August Harvest
September โ€”
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 6a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

102 days in Jefferson County

Growing Tips for Mizuna in Jefferson County

Direct sow Mizuna outdoors after June 09 in Jefferson County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

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 Jefferson County, OR?

Jefferson County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of June 9. Plan your Mizuna planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Jefferson County, OR?

Jefferson County, Oregon is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is June 9 and first fall frost is September 19.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Jefferson County gardeners in Zone 6a organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

Free download. Plan your entire garden season in minutes.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Jefferson County, OR. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.