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When to Plant Tatsoi in Allen County, KS

Allen County, Kansas Zone 6b May

This month in Allen County, Kansas

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 April 8
Avg. first frost October 25
Soil temp (4") 64°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14 hrs
  1. Get tatsoi seeds going inside

    Label every cell. You will absolutely forget which is which otherwise.

  2. Start harvesting tatsoi

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

Looking ahead to June
  • First harvests: tatsoi

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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.

Allen County, Kansas is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 8 and the first fall frost is October 25, giving you a growing season of approximately 200 days.

At an elevation of 578 feet, Allen County receives approximately 26.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 88°F, providing good warmth for Tatsoi during the growing season.

Allen County, KS (Zone 6b) Long season
200 days
Last Spring Frost April 8
200 growing days
First Fall Frost October 25

Allen County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-7.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (129 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 27 Transplant: Apr 3 🍅 Harvest: May 8 – Jun 12
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (130 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 4 Transplant: Apr 8 🍅 Harvest: May 13 – Jun 17
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (135 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 15 Transplant: Apr 19 🍅 Harvest: May 24 – Jun 28

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 Allen County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.5–7.8) overlaps with Tatsoi's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.1%) — Tatsoi will thrive.

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

6
successive plantings in your 200-day season

Sow every 4 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 05 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 16.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.6″/week
You supply
0.5″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 943 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 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 2.7" 1.6" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 4.1" 0.2" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 4.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 3.6" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.3" 2.7" 1.6" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2.2" 2.1" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 1.6" 2.7" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Allen 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 ~680 GDD — county provides 3,200 GDD Excellent fit

Tatsoi Planting Timeline — Allen County, KS

Tatsoi Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 4 Mar 4 – Mar 18
Transplant Outdoors April 8 Apr 8 – Apr 22
Direct Sow March 25 Mar 25 – Apr 15
Harvest May 13 May 13 – Jun 17
Fall Sowing August 16 Aug 16 – Aug 30

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

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: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

📆 Growing Season

200 days in Allen County

Growing Tips for Tatsoi in Allen County

Direct sow Tatsoi outdoors after April 08 in Allen County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 200.0-day season in Allen 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 Allen County, KS?

Allen County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of April 8. Plan your Tatsoi planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Allen County, KS?

Allen County, Kansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 8 and first fall frost is October 25.

🌱

Your Allen County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Allen County (Zone 6b). 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 Allen County, KS. 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.