Blog

When to Plant Mizuna in Bexar County, TX

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.

Bexar County, Texas is in USDA Zone 8b. The average last spring frost is March 11 and the first fall frost is November 17, giving you a growing season of approximately 251 days.

At an elevation of 3,197 feet, Bexar County receives approximately 52.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 93ยฐF, providing good warmth for Mizuna during the growing season. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Mizuna root diseases.

Bexar County, TX (Zone 8b) Long season
251 days
Last Spring Frost March 11
251 growing days
First Fall Frost November 17

Bexar County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-7.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (193 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 25 Transplant: Mar 1 🍅 Harvest: Apr 5 – May 3
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (188 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 4 Transplant: Mar 11 🍅 Harvest: Apr 15 – May 13
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (185 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 3 Transplant: Apr 7 🍅 Harvest: May 12 – Jun 9

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 Bexar County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.5โ€“7.8) overlaps with Mizuna's range (6.0โ€“7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.2%). 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

10
successive plantings in your 251-day season

Sow every 3.4 weeks. Last sowing by Oct 03 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Sep 08.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/week
You supply
0.1″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 286 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€” 1.4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 1.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar 4.3" 3.6" 0.7" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Apr 4.3" 5.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
May 4.3" 7.5" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.3" 8.2" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 6.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 6.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 4.9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 4.3" 3.5" 0.8" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov 4.3" 1.9" 2.4" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Dec โ€” 1.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Marโ€“Nov in Bexar 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 ~741 GDD — county provides 4,957 GDD Excellent fit

Mizuna Planting Timeline โ€” Bexar County, TX

Mizuna Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 4 Feb 4 โ€“ Feb 18
Transplant Outdoors March 11 Mar 11 โ€“ Mar 25
Direct Sow February 25 Feb 25 โ€“ Mar 18
Harvest April 15 Apr 15 โ€“ May 13
Fall Sowing September 8 Sep 8 โ€“ Sep 22

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February Start Indoors Direct Sow
March Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
April Harvest
May Harvest
June โ€”
July โ€”
August โ€”
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 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 8b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

251 days in Bexar County

Growing Tips for Mizuna in Bexar County

Direct sow Mizuna outdoors after March 11 in Bexar County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 251.0-day season in Bexar 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 Bexar County, TX?

Bexar County is in Zone 8b with an average last frost of March 11. Plan your Mizuna planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Bexar County, TX?

Bexar County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8b. The average last spring frost is March 11 and first fall frost is November 17.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Bexar County gardeners in Zone 8b 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 Bexar County, TX. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.