Blog

When to Plant Pac Choi in Geary County, KS

Geary County, Kansas Zone 6b May

Your May planting checklist for Geary County, Kansas

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

Avg. last frost April 15
Avg. first frost October 20
Soil temp (4") 64°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.1 hrs
  1. Time to start pac choi inside

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

  2. Pick pac choi

    Don't tug. Use scissors or pruners for clean cuts — torn stems invite disease.

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

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

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.

Geary County, Kansas is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 15 and the first fall frost is October 20, giving you a growing season of approximately 188 days.

At an elevation of 610 feet, Geary County receives approximately 31.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 88°F, providing good warmth for Pac Choi during the growing season.

Geary County, KS (Zone 6b) Moderate season
188 days
Last Spring Frost April 15
188 growing days
First Fall Frost October 20

Geary County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.4-7.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (115 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 7 Transplant: Apr 11 🍅 Harvest: May 23 – Jun 20
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (118 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 11 Transplant: Apr 15 🍅 Harvest: May 27 – Jun 24
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (117 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 Geary County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.4–7.8) overlaps with Pac Choi's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.3%). Annual compost additions will help Pac Choi.

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 188-day season

Sow every 4.6 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 26 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 11.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/week
You supply
1.0″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 1,612 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

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 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 6.5" 3.3" 3.2" 💧 Light watering
May 6.5" 4.9" 1.6" 💧 Light watering
Jun 6.5" 4.5" 2" 💧 Light watering
Jul 6.5" 3.8" 2.7" 💧 Light watering
Aug 6.5" 3.8" 2.7" 💧 Light watering
Sep 6.5" 3.2" 3.3" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 6.5" 1.9" 4.6" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Geary 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 ~760 GDD — county provides 3,008 GDD Excellent fit

Pac Choi Planting Timeline — Geary County, KS

Pac Choi Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 11 Mar 11 – Mar 25
Transplant Outdoors April 15 Apr 15 – Apr 29
Direct Sow April 1 Apr 1 – Apr 22
Harvest May 27 May 27 – Jun 24
Fall Sowing August 11 Aug 11 – Aug 25

Plant 1" deep · 15" apart · Rows 24" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March Start Indoors
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

1.5"/week · 2-3 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

40–55 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

📆 Growing Season

188 days in Geary County

Growing Tips for Pac Choi in Geary County

Direct sow Pac Choi outdoors after April 15 in Geary County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 188.0-day season in Geary 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 Geary County, KS?

Geary County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of April 15. Plan your Pac Choi planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Geary County, KS?

Geary County, Kansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 15 and first fall frost is October 20.

🌱

Your Geary County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Geary 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 Geary 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.