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When to Plant Pac Choi in Clark County, IN

Clark County, Indiana Zone 7a May

Your May gardening checklist

Each item below is timed to Clark County, Indiana's frost dates and soil temperatures. Skip nothing, stress about nothing.

Avg. last frost April 10
Avg. first frost October 22
Soil temp (4") 63°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.1 hrs
  1. Start pac choi under lights

    These need a head start before your last frost (April 10). Sow into cells now so you're ready to transplant in a few weeks.

  2. Bring in the pac choi

    If you can't use it all right away, check the food-preservation section of your planner.

To set up a strong June, finish these tasks
  • 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.

Clark County, Indiana is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 10 and the first fall frost is October 22, giving you a growing season of approximately 195 days.

At an elevation of 1,265 feet, Clark County receives approximately 36.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 87°F, providing good warmth for Pac Choi during the growing season.

Clark County, IN (Zone 7a) Moderate season
195 days
Last Spring Frost April 10
195 growing days
First Fall Frost October 22
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Clark County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.8-6.7

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 (125 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 6 Transplant: Apr 10 🍅 Harvest: May 22 – Jun 19
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (122 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 26 Transplant: Apr 30 🍅 Harvest: Jun 11 – Jul 9

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 Clark County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.8–6.7) overlaps with Pac Choi's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.3%) — Pac Choi will thrive.

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 195-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
0.8″/week
You supply
0.7″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 1,224 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 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 6.5" 3.8" 2.7" 💧 Light watering
May 6.5" 4.5" 2" 💧 Light watering
Jun 6.5" 4.5" 2" 💧 Light watering
Jul 6.5" 4.1" 2.4" 💧 Light watering
Aug 6.5" 3.5" 3" 💧 Light watering
Sep 6.5" 2.8" 3.7" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 6.5" 3" 3.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Clark 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 ~724 GDD — county provides 2,973 GDD Excellent fit

Pac Choi Planting Timeline — Clark County, IN

Pac Choi Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 6 Mar 6 – Mar 20
Transplant Outdoors April 10 Apr 10 – Apr 24
Direct Sow March 27 Mar 27 – Apr 17
Harvest May 22 May 22 – Jun 19
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
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Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

1.5"/week · 2-3 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

40–55 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

📆 Growing Season

195 days in Clark County

Growing Tips for Pac Choi in Clark County

Direct sow Pac Choi outdoors after April 10 in Clark County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 195.0-day season in Clark 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 Clark County, IN?

Clark County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 10. Plan your Pac Choi planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Clark County, IN?

Clark County, Indiana is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 10 and first fall frost is October 22.

🌱

Your Clark County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Clark County (Zone 7a). 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 Clark County, IN. 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.