Blog

When to Plant Pac Choi in Briscoe County, TX

Pac choi (baby bok choy) is a compact variety of Chinese cabbage with tender leaves and crisp stems. It grows quickly and is ideal for containers and small spaces.

Briscoe County, Texas is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 6 and the first fall frost is November 2, giving you a growing season of approximately 210 days.

At an elevation of 4,513 feet, Briscoe County receives approximately 47.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 98ยฐF, so Pac Choi may need afternoon shade and extra watering during peak heat. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring โ€” great for early planting โ€” but Pac Choi will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients.

Briscoe County, TX (Zone 7a) Long season
210 days
Last Spring Frost April 6
210 growing days
First Fall Frost November 2

Briscoe County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

7.4-8.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (145 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 19 Transplant: Mar 26 🍅 Harvest: May 7 – Jun 4
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (140 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 2 Transplant: Apr 6 🍅 Harvest: May 18 – Jun 15
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (147 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 12 Transplant: Apr 16 🍅 Harvest: May 28 – Jun 25

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 Briscoe County

How your county's soil matches Pac Choi's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (7.4โ€“8.3) is more alkaline than Pac Choi prefers (6.0โ€“7.5). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is low (1.0%). Add 2-3 inches of compost before planting Pac Choi.

How to Plant Pac Choi

1"
Planting Depth
15"
Between Plants
24"
Between Rows

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

Succession Planting Pac Choi

6
successive plantings in your 210-day season

Sow every 4.6 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 08 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 24.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.5″/week
Rainfall provides
1.0″/week
You supply
0.7″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 1,238 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Pac Choi

Pac Choi needs approximately 1.5 inches of water per week (6.5" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Pac Choi Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 3.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 2.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 6.5" 1.6" 4.9" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
May 6.5" 1" 5.5" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jun 6.5" 1.9" 4.6" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jul 6.5" 7.5" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 6.5" 10.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 6.5" 6.2" 0.3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct 6.5" 4.1" 2.4" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov 6.5" 3" 3.5" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Dec โ€” 2.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

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

Pac Choi 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.

Pac Choi needs ~1,116 GDD — county provides 4,935 GDD Excellent fit

Pac Choi Planting Timeline โ€” Briscoe County, TX

Pac Choi Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 2 Mar 2 โ€“ Mar 16
Transplant Outdoors April 6 Apr 6 โ€“ Apr 20
Direct Sow March 23 Mar 23 โ€“ Apr 13
Harvest May 18 May 18 โ€“ Jun 15
Fall Sowing August 24 Aug 24 โ€“ Sep 7

Plant 1" deep ยท 15" apart ยท Rows 24" 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 Fall Sowing
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

1.5"/week ยท 1-2 times/week

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

40โ€“55 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7.5 ยท Your soil: too_alkaline

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

210 days in Briscoe County

Growing Tips for Pac Choi in Briscoe County

Direct sow Pac Choi outdoors after April 06 in Briscoe County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

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

With summer highs reaching 98ยฐF in Briscoe County, provide afternoon shade for Pac Choi and water deeply in the morning.

Your generous 210.0-day season in Briscoe County allows multiple plantings of Pac Choi. Sow every 20.0 days for continuous harvest.

Common pests for Pac Choi 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. Grows best in cool weather. Space 6 inches apart for baby pac choi. Harvest whole plants or cut outer leaves as needed.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Strawberries

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Pac Choi in Briscoe County, TX?

Briscoe County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 6. Plan your Pac Choi planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Briscoe County, TX?

Briscoe County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 6 and first fall frost is November 2.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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