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When to Plant Tatsoi in Woodford County, KY

Woodford County, Kentucky Zone 7a May

This month in Woodford County, Kentucky

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

Avg. last frost April 15
Avg. first frost October 24
Soil temp (4") 60°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.1 hrs
  1. Fire up the seed-starting tray: tatsoi

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

  2. Start harvesting tatsoi

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

Get ahead of 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.

Woodford County, Kentucky is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 15 and the first fall frost is October 24, giving you a growing season of approximately 192 days.

At an elevation of 1,815 feet, Woodford County receives approximately 42.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 87°F, providing good warmth for Tatsoi during the growing season.

Woodford County, KY (Zone 7a) Moderate season
192 days
Last Spring Frost April 15
192 growing days
First Fall Frost October 24
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Woodford County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.5-6.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (123 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 4 Transplant: Apr 8 🍅 Harvest: May 13 – Jun 17
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (122 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 11 Transplant: Apr 15 🍅 Harvest: May 20 – Jun 24
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (114 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 28 Transplant: May 2 🍅 Harvest: Jun 6 – Jul 11

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 Woodford County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.5–6.6) overlaps with Tatsoi's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.0%). Annual compost additions will help Tatsoi.

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 192-day season

Sow every 4 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 04 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 15.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/week
You supply
0.1″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 131 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 3.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 3.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 3.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 3.4" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 3.3" 1" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 4.1" 0.2" 💧 Light watering
Jul 4.3" 5.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 3.6" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 3.5" 0.8" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 2.6" 1.7" 💧 Light watering
Nov 3.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 3" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Woodford 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 ~648 GDD — county provides 2,928 GDD Excellent fit

Tatsoi Planting Timeline — Woodford County, KY

Tatsoi 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 20 May 20 – Jun 24
Fall Sowing August 15 Aug 15 – Aug 29

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

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · Only during dry spells

📅 Days to Maturity

35–50 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

📆 Growing Season

192 days in Woodford County

Growing Tips for Tatsoi in Woodford County

Direct sow Tatsoi outdoors after April 15 in Woodford County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 192.0-day season in Woodford 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 Woodford County, KY?

Woodford County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 15. Plan your Tatsoi planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Woodford County, KY?

Woodford County, Kentucky is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 15 and first fall frost is October 24.

🌱

Your Woodford County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Woodford County (Zone 7a). 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 Woodford County, KY. 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.