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When to Plant Mizuna in Delaware County, IN

Delaware County, Indiana Zone 6a May

May to-do list for Delaware County, Indiana

May is a pivotal month for Delaware County, Indiana gardens. Focus on these tasks first and you'll set up the rest of the season for success.

Avg. last frost April 26
Avg. first frost October 16
Soil temp (4") 58°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.2 hrs
  1. Sow mizuna in trays indoors

    A seed-starting mix and a sunny window (or a grow light) are all you need. Keep soil warm — around 70°F — for fast germination.

  2. Collect mizuna at their peak

    The more you pick, the more the plant produces. Letting fruit overripen tells the plant it's time to stop.

June prep starts now
  • First harvests: mizuna

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Mizuna is a mild-flavored Japanese mustard green with feathery, deeply serrated leaves. It is fast-growing and makes an excellent addition to salads and stir-fries.

Delaware County, Indiana is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 26 and the first fall frost is October 16, giving you a growing season of approximately 173 days.

At an elevation of 739 feet, Delaware County receives approximately 31.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 83°F, so choose short-season varieties of Mizuna to ensure they mature before fall.

Delaware County, IN (Zone 6a) Moderate season
173 days
Last Spring Frost April 26
173 growing days
First Fall Frost October 16

Delaware County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6-7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (106 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 18 Transplant: Apr 22 🍅 Harvest: May 27 – Jun 24
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (110 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 22 Transplant: Apr 26 🍅 Harvest: May 31 – Jun 28
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (104 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 7 Transplant: May 12 🍅 Harvest: Jun 16 – Jul 14

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 Delaware County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.0–7.0) is within Mizuna's preferred range (6.0–7.5).

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.8%) — Mizuna will thrive.

How to Plant Mizuna

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 Mizuna

6
successive plantings in your 173-day season

Sow every 3.4 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 01 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 07.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
You supply
0.2″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 377 gal / 100 sq ft

Monthly Watering Guide for Mizuna

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

Month Mizuna Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 3.1" 1.2" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 3.6" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 3.7" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
Jul 4.3" 3.6" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.3" 3.5" 0.8" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2.4" 1.9" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 2.5" 1.8" 💧 Light watering
Nov 2.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Mizuna 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.

Mizuna needs ~459 GDD — county provides 2,119 GDD Excellent fit

Mizuna Planting Timeline — Delaware County, IN

Mizuna Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 22 Mar 22 – Apr 5
Transplant Outdoors April 26 Apr 26 – May 10
Direct Sow April 12 Apr 12 – May 3
Harvest May 31 May 31 – Jun 28
Fall Sowing August 7 Aug 7 – Aug 21

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · Only during dry spells

📅 Days to Maturity

30–45 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: ideal

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

📆 Growing Season

173 days in Delaware County

Growing Tips for Mizuna in Delaware County

Direct sow Mizuna outdoors after April 26 in Delaware County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 173.0-day season in Delaware County allows multiple plantings of Mizuna. Sow every 15.0 days for continuous harvest.

Common pests for Mizuna 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. Harvest outer leaves as needed for a cut-and-come-again approach. Mizuna is one of the most cold-tolerant Asian greens.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Strawberries

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Mizuna in Delaware County, IN?

Delaware County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 26. Plan your Mizuna planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Delaware County, IN?

Delaware County, Indiana is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 26 and first fall frost is October 16.

🌱

Your Delaware County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Delaware County (Zone 6a). 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 Delaware 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.