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When to Plant Tatsoi in Osceola County, FL

Osceola County, Florida Zone 10a May

May in the garden — Osceola County, Florida

May rewards gardeners who work with the weather, not against it. Here's how to stay in step this month in Osceola County, Florida.

Avg. last frost January 22
Avg. first frost December 20
Soil temp (4") 77°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure High
Daylight 13.4 hrs

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Tatsoi is a compact Asian green forming beautiful rosettes of dark, spoon-shaped leaves with a mild mustard flavor. It is extremely cold-hardy and versatile.

Osceola County, Florida is in USDA Zone 10a. The average last spring frost is January 22 and the first fall frost is December 20, giving you a growing season of approximately 332 days.

At an elevation of 352 feet, Osceola County receives approximately 58.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sand soil. Summer highs average 102°F, so Tatsoi may need afternoon shade and extra watering during peak heat. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring — great for early planting — but Tatsoi will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Tatsoi root diseases.

Osceola County, FL (Zone 10a) Year-round
332 days
Last Spring Frost January 22
332 growing days
First Fall Frost December 20

Osceola County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sand

Soil pH

4.9-6.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (264 days to spare)
Start indoors: Dec 15 Transplant: Jan 12 🍅 Harvest: Feb 16 – Mar 23
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (262 days to spare)
Start indoors: Dec 25 Transplant: Jan 22 🍅 Harvest: Feb 26 – Apr 2
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (239 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 21 Transplant: Feb 18 🍅 Harvest: Mar 25 – Apr 29

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 Osceola County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (4.9–6.1) is more acidic than Tatsoi prefers (6.0–7.5). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is low (1.7%). Add 2-3 inches of compost before planting Tatsoi.

How to Plant Tatsoi

0.5"
Planting Depth
6"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Fall planting: Sow 8 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Tatsoi

11
successive plantings in your 332-day season

Sow every 4 weeks. Last sowing by Oct 31 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Oct 25.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/week
You supply
0.3″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 923 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Tatsoi

Tatsoi needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Tatsoi Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 4.3" 2.6" 1.7" 💧 Light watering
Feb 4.3" 3.5" 0.8" 💧 Light watering
Mar 4.3" 3.9" 0.4" 💧 Light watering
Apr 4.3" 3" 1.3" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 3.7" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 8.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 9.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 8.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 7.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 4.3" 4.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 4.3" 2.2" 2.1" 💧 Light watering
Dec 4.3" 2.4" 1.9" 💧 Light watering

Water needs are for active growing months only (Jan–Dec in Osceola County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Tatsoi 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.

Tatsoi needs ~1,126 GDD — county provides 8,824 GDD Excellent fit

Tatsoi Planting Timeline — Osceola County, FL

Tatsoi Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors December 25 Dec 25 – Jan 8
Transplant Outdoors January 22 Jan 22 – Feb 5
Direct Sow January 1 Jan 1 – Jan 22
Harvest February 26 Feb 26 – Apr 2
Fall Sowing October 25 Oct 25 – Nov 8

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

35–50 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: too_acidic

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 10a

📆 Growing Season

332 days in Osceola County

Growing Tips for Tatsoi in Osceola County

Direct sow Tatsoi outdoors after January 22 in Osceola County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in Osceola County dries quickly — mulch Tatsoi with 2-3 inches of straw and water deeply 2-3 times per week rather than lightly every day.

With summer highs reaching 102°F in Osceola County, provide afternoon shade for Tatsoi and water deeply in the morning.

Your generous 333.0-day season in Osceola County allows multiple plantings of Tatsoi. Sow every 17.0 days for continuous harvest.

Common pests for Tatsoi 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. Tatsoi tolerates frost down to 15F. Harvest outer leaves or cut whole rosettes. Excellent in salads, stir-fries, or lightly wilted.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Strawberries

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Tatsoi in Osceola County, FL?

Osceola County is in Zone 10a with an average last frost of January 22. Plan your Tatsoi planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Osceola County, FL?

Osceola County, Florida is in USDA Hardiness Zone 10a. The average last spring frost is January 22 and first fall frost is December 20.

🌱

Your Osceola County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Osceola County (Zone 10a). 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 Osceola County, FL. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: May 2026.

Sources & credits

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