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When to Plant Bok Choy in Leavenworth County, KS

Leavenworth County, Kansas Zone 6b May

Leavenworth County, Kansas gardeners: here's your May plan

We've pulled the most time-sensitive tasks for Leavenworth County, Kansas this May and put them front and centre. Tackle them in order.

Avg. last frost April 14
Avg. first frost October 24
Soil temp (4") 64°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.1 hrs
  1. Begin indoor sowing: bok choy

    Starting these indoors now means sturdy transplants ready the moment your soil warms up.

  2. Bring in the bok choy

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

Get ahead of June
  • First harvests: bok choy

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Bok choy is a Chinese cabbage variety with crisp white stalks and dark green leaves. It is a fast-growing cool-season crop ideal for stir-fries and soups.

Leavenworth County, Kansas is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 14 and the first fall frost is October 24, giving you a growing season of approximately 193 days.

At an elevation of 693 feet, Leavenworth County receives approximately 20.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 88°F, providing good warmth for Bok Choy during the growing season.

Leavenworth County, KS (Zone 6b) Moderate season
193 days
Last Spring Frost April 14
193 growing days
First Fall Frost October 24

Leavenworth County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.6-7.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (115 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 3 Transplant: Apr 7 🍅 Harvest: May 19 – Jun 23
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (116 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 10 Transplant: Apr 14 🍅 Harvest: May 26 – Jun 30
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (118 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 23 Transplant: Apr 27 🍅 Harvest: Jun 8 – Jul 13

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 Leavenworth County

How your county's soil matches Bok Choy's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.6–7.7) overlaps with Bok Choy's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Leavenworth County is excellent for Bok Choy — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.3%) — Bok Choy will thrive.

How to Plant Bok Choy

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 Bok Choy

5
successive plantings in your 193-day season

Sow every 4.6 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 25 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 15.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.7″/week
Rainfall provides
0.4″/week
You supply
0.3″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 532 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Monthly Watering Guide for Bok Choy

Bok Choy needs approximately 0.7 inches of water per week (3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Bok Choy Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 0.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 3" 2" 1" 💧 Light watering
May 3" 3.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 3" 3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3" 2.8" 0.2" 💧 Light watering
Aug 3" 2.4" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
Sep 3" 1.9" 1.1" 💧 Light watering
Oct 3" 1.3" 1.7" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Bok Choy 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.

Bok Choy needs ~800 GDD — county provides 3,088 GDD Excellent fit

Bok Choy Planting Timeline — Leavenworth County, KS

Bok Choy Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 10 Mar 10 – Mar 24
Transplant Outdoors April 14 Apr 14 – Apr 28
Direct Sow March 31 Mar 31 – Apr 21
Harvest May 26 May 26 – Jun 30
Fall Sowing August 15 Aug 15 – Aug 29

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

0.7"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

40–60 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

📆 Growing Season

193 days in Leavenworth County

Growing Tips for Bok Choy in Leavenworth County

Direct sow Bok Choy outdoors after April 14 in Leavenworth County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 193.0-day season in Leavenworth County allows multiple plantings of Bok Choy. Sow every 20.0 days for continuous harvest.

Common pests for Bok Choy 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 for best results. Keep soil consistently moist. Harvest whole heads or cut outer leaves for a cut-and-come-again approach.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Strawberries

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Bok Choy in Leavenworth County, KS?

Leavenworth County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of April 14. Plan your Bok Choy planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Leavenworth County, KS?

Leavenworth County, Kansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 14 and first fall frost is October 24.

🌱

Your Leavenworth County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Leavenworth 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.

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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 Leavenworth 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.