Blog

When to Plant Tatsoi in Cobb County, GA

Cobb County, Georgia Zone 8a May

Your May planting checklist for Cobb County, Georgia

If you only do a handful of things in the garden this May, make it these. They're sequenced around your zone's frost timing.

Avg. last frost March 31
Avg. first frost November 1
Soil temp (4") 67°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 13.8 hrs
  1. Time to start tatsoi inside

    Bottom-water once the first true leaves appear — it keeps stems dry and knocks back damping-off.

  2. Pick tatsoi

    Check every 1–2 days. Many of these get tough or go to seed if you wait too long.

Coming up in June — start thinking about
  • First harvests: tatsoi

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

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.

Cobb County, Georgia is in USDA Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 31 and the first fall frost is November 1, giving you a growing season of approximately 215 days.

At an elevation of 387 feet, Cobb County receives approximately 57.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly clay loam soil. Summer highs average 89°F, providing good warmth for Tatsoi during the growing season. Clay soil retains moisture well for Tatsoi, but amend with compost to improve drainage and prevent root rot. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Tatsoi root diseases.

Cobb County, GA (Zone 8a) Long season
215 days
Last Spring Frost March 31
215 growing days
First Fall Frost November 1

Cobb County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Clay Loam

Soil pH

5.3-6.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (147 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 16 Transplant: Mar 23 🍅 Harvest: Apr 27 – Jun 1
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (145 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 24 Transplant: Mar 31 🍅 Harvest: May 5 – Jun 9
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (150 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 13 Transplant: Apr 17 🍅 Harvest: May 22 – Jun 26

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 Cobb County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.3–6.5) is more acidic than Tatsoi prefers (6.0–7.5). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

The clay loam soil in Cobb County is excellent for Tatsoi — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Tatsoi.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.3%). Annual compost additions will help Tatsoi.

How to Plant Tatsoi

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 Tatsoi

7
successive plantings in your 215-day season

Sow every 4 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 12 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 23.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
1.1″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 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 4.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 4.3" 6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Apr 4.3" 4.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 4.3" 3.9" 0.4" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 5.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 5.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 5.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 4.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 4.3" 3.7" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
Nov 4.3" 4.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Dec 5.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Mar–Nov in Cobb 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 ~712 GDD — county provides 3,601 GDD Excellent fit

Tatsoi Planting Timeline — Cobb County, GA

Tatsoi Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 24 Feb 24 – Mar 10
Transplant Outdoors March 31 Mar 31 – Apr 14
Direct Sow March 17 Mar 17 – Apr 7
Harvest May 5 May 5 – Jun 9
Fall Sowing August 23 Aug 23 – Sep 6

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

35–50 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: too_acidic

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 8a

📆 Growing Season

215 days in Cobb County

Growing Tips for Tatsoi in Cobb County

Direct sow Tatsoi outdoors after March 31 in Cobb County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

With Cobb County's clay soil (26% clay), work in 3-4 inches of compost before planting Tatsoi. Avoid tilling when soil is wet to prevent compaction.

Your generous 215.0-day season in Cobb 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 Cobb County, GA?

Cobb County is in Zone 8a with an average last frost of March 31. Plan your Tatsoi planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Cobb County, GA?

Cobb County, Georgia is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 31 and first fall frost is November 1.

🌱

Your Cobb County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Cobb County (Zone 8a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Cobb County, GA. 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.