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When to Plant Pac Choi in Newton County, AR

Newton County, Arkansas Zone 6b April

April in Newton County, Arkansas — your action list

Your Newton County, Arkansas garden is entering a new phase. Here's what's on the schedule for April and why each task matters now.

Avg. last frost April 13
Avg. first frost October 22
Soil temp (4") 52°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 12.9 hrs
  1. Get pac choi in the ground

    Plant tomatoes deep — bury the stem up to the first true leaves to grow extra roots. Everything else goes in at the same depth it grew in the tray.

Before May arrives, get these ready
  • Starting indoors: pac choi
  • First harvests: pac choi

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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.

Newton County, Arkansas is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 13 and the first fall frost is October 22, giving you a growing season of approximately 192 days.

At an elevation of 881 feet, Newton County receives approximately 48.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 86°F, providing good warmth for Pac Choi during the growing season.

Newton County, AR (Zone 6b) Moderate season
192 days
Last Spring Frost April 13
192 growing days
First Fall Frost October 22

Newton County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.7-6.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (126 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 28 Transplant: Apr 4 🍅 Harvest: May 16 – Jun 13
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (122 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 9 Transplant: Apr 13 🍅 Harvest: May 25 – Jun 22
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (128 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 19 Transplant: Apr 23 🍅 Harvest: Jun 4 – Jul 2

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 Newton County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.7–6.8) overlaps with Pac Choi's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Newton County is excellent for Pac Choi — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.9%). Annual compost additions will help 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

5
successive plantings in your 192-day season

Sow every 4.6 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 28 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 13.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.5″/week
Rainfall provides
1.1″/week
You supply
0.4″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 747 gal / 100 sq ft

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 4.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 4.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 4.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 6.5" 3.9" 2.6" 💧 Light watering
May 6.5" 4.5" 2" 💧 Light watering
Jun 6.5" 3.8" 2.7" 💧 Light watering
Jul 6.5" 4.4" 2.1" 💧 Light watering
Aug 6.5" 4.1" 2.4" 💧 Light watering
Sep 6.5" 3.4" 3.1" 💧 Light watering
Oct 6.5" 3.5" 3" 💧 Light watering
Nov 3.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 4.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Newton County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — 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" — every day above 50°F 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 ~689 GDD — county provides 2,784 GDD Excellent fit

Pac Choi Planting Timeline — Newton County, AR

Pac Choi Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 9 Mar 9 – Mar 23
Transplant Outdoors April 13 Apr 13 – Apr 27
Direct Sow March 30 Mar 30 – Apr 20
Harvest May 25 May 25 – Jun 22
Fall Sowing August 13 Aug 13 – Aug 27

Plant 1" deep · 15" apart · Rows 24" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

1.5"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

40–55 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

📆 Growing Season

192 days in Newton County

Growing Tips for Pac Choi in Newton County

Direct sow Pac Choi outdoors after April 13 in Newton County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 192.0-day season in Newton 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 Newton County, AR?

Newton County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of April 13. Plan your Pac Choi planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Newton County, AR?

Newton County, Arkansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 13 and first fall frost is October 22.

🌱

Your Newton County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Newton County (Zone 6b). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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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 Newton County, AR. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.