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When to Plant Mizuna in Kinney 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.

Kinney County, Texas is in USDA Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is February 22 and the first fall frost is November 30, giving you a growing season of approximately 281 days.

At an elevation of 1,375 feet, Kinney County receives approximately 52.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 101ยฐF, so Mizuna may need afternoon shade and extra watering during peak heat. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring โ€” great for early planting โ€” but Mizuna will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Mizuna root diseases.

Kinney County, TX (Zone 8a) Year-round
281 days
Last Spring Frost February 22
281 growing days
First Fall Frost November 30

Kinney County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

7.4-8.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (222 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 9 Transplant: Feb 13 🍅 Harvest: Mar 20 – Apr 17
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (218 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 18 Transplant: Feb 22 🍅 Harvest: Mar 29 – Apr 26
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (210 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 11 Transplant: Mar 18 🍅 Harvest: Apr 22 – May 20

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 Kinney County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (7.4โ€“8.6) is more alkaline than Mizuna prefers (6.0โ€“7.5). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

Sandy soil in Kinney County warms quickly in spring but drains fast. Mizuna will need more frequent watering and regular compost additions to retain nutrients.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is low (1.1%). Add 2-3 inches of compost before planting 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

11
successive plantings in your 281-day season

Sow every 3.4 weeks. Last sowing by Oct 16 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Sep 21.

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 670 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€” 3.4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb 4.3" 3.3" 1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Mar 4.3" 3" 1.3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Apr 4.3" 1.7" 2.6" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
May 4.3" 1.3" 3" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jun 4.3" 2" 2.3" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 8.2" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 10.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 7.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 4.3" 4" 0.3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov 4.3" 3.4" 0.9" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Dec โ€” 3.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Febโ€“Nov in Kinney 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 ~966 GDD — county provides 7,261 GDD Excellent fit

Mizuna Planting Timeline โ€” Kinney County, TX

Mizuna Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors January 18 Jan 18 โ€“ Feb 1
Transplant Outdoors February 22 Feb 22 โ€“ Mar 8
Direct Sow February 8 Feb 8 โ€“ Mar 1
Harvest March 29 Mar 29 โ€“ Apr 26
Fall Sowing September 21 Sep 21 โ€“ Oct 5

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 8a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

281 days in Kinney County

Growing Tips for Mizuna in Kinney County

Direct sow Mizuna outdoors after February 22 in Kinney County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in Kinney County dries quickly โ€” mulch Mizuna with 2-3 inches of straw and water deeply 2-3 times per week rather than lightly every day.

With summer highs reaching 101ยฐF in Kinney County, provide afternoon shade for Mizuna and water deeply in the morning.

Your generous 282.0-day season in Kinney 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 Kinney County, TX?

Kinney County is in Zone 8a with an average last frost of February 22. Plan your Mizuna planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Kinney County, TX?

Kinney County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is February 22 and first fall frost is November 30.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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