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When to Plant Mizuna in Marshall County, IN

Marshall County, Indiana Zone 6a May

This month in Marshall County, Indiana

Here's what deserves your attention in Marshall County, Indiana this month. Everything below is tailored to Zone 6a and timed around your local frost dates.

Avg. last frost April 26
Avg. first frost October 18
Soil temp (4") 58°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.3 hrs
  1. Start mizuna under lights

    You're about 21 weeks out from your last frost — the perfect window to get these germinating indoors.

  2. Pick mizuna

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

June will be here before you know it — start on
  • 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.

Marshall County, Indiana is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 26 and the first fall frost is October 18, giving you a growing season of approximately 175 days.

At an elevation of 1,140 feet, Marshall County receives approximately 34.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 84°F, so choose short-season varieties of Mizuna to ensure they mature before fall.

Marshall County, IN (Zone 6a) Moderate season
175 days
Last Spring Frost April 26
175 growing days
First Fall Frost October 18

Marshall County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6.2-7.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (113 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 16 Transplant: Apr 20 🍅 Harvest: May 25 – Jun 22
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (112 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 22 Transplant: Apr 26 🍅 Harvest: May 31 – Jun 28
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (109 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 Marshall County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.2–7.3) is within Mizuna's preferred range (6.0–7.5).

Soil Texture

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

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Mizuna.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (5.1%) — 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

7
successive plantings in your 175-day season

Sow every 3.4 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 03 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 09.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
You supply
0.5″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 735 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 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 2.9" 1.4" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 4.1" 0.2" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 4.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 3.7" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.3" 3.4" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 3.4" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 2.4" 1.9" 💧 Light watering
Nov 2.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Marshall 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 ~488 GDD — county provides 2,275 GDD Excellent fit

Mizuna Planting Timeline — Marshall 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 9 Aug 9 – Aug 23

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 · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

30–45 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: ideal

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

📆 Growing Season

175 days in Marshall County

Growing Tips for Mizuna in Marshall County

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

Your generous 175.0-day season in Marshall 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 Marshall County, IN?

Marshall 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 Marshall County, IN?

Marshall County, Indiana is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 26 and first fall frost is October 18.

🌱

Your Marshall County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Marshall 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 Marshall 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.