Blog

When to Plant Pac Choi in Beauregard Parish, LA

Beauregard Parish, Louisiana Zone 8b April

Your April gardening checklist

Each item below is timed to Beauregard Parish, Louisiana's frost dates and soil temperatures. Skip nothing, stress about nothing.

Avg. last frost March 7
Avg. first frost November 16
Soil temp (4") 61°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure High
Daylight 12.8 hrs
  1. Time to start pac choi inside

    These need a head start before your last frost (March 7). Sow into cells now so you're ready to transplant in a few weeks.

  2. Bring in the pac choi

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

Looking ahead to May
  • 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.

Beauregard Parish, Louisiana is in USDA Zone 8b. The average last spring frost is March 7 and the first fall frost is November 16, giving you a growing season of approximately 254 days.

At an elevation of 206 feet, Beauregard Parish receives approximately 49.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 91°F, providing good warmth for Pac Choi during the growing season. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring — great for early planting — but Pac Choi will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients.

Beauregard Parish, LA (Zone 8b) Long season
254 days
Last Spring Frost March 7
254 growing days
First Fall Frost November 16

Beauregard Parish Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

4.8-6.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (185 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 23 Transplant: Feb 27 🍅 Harvest: Apr 10 – May 8
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (184 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 31 Transplant: Mar 7 🍅 Harvest: Apr 18 – May 16
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (179 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 2 Transplant: Apr 6 🍅 Harvest: May 18 – Jun 15

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 Beauregard Parish

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (4.8–6.2) is more acidic than Pac Choi prefers (6.0–7.5). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

Sandy soil in Beauregard Parish warms quickly in spring but drains fast. Pac Choi will need more frequent watering and regular compost additions to retain nutrients.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is low (1.7%). Add 2-3 inches of compost before planting 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

7
successive plantings in your 254-day season

Sow every 4.6 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 22 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Sep 07.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
You supply
0.8″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 1,858 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 3.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 4.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 6.5" 4.2" 2.3" 💧 Light watering
Apr 6.5" 3.4" 3.1" 💧 Light watering
May 6.5" 4.2" 2.3" 💧 Light watering
Jun 6.5" 4" 2.5" 💧 Light watering
Jul 6.5" 5.4" 1.1" 💧 Light watering
Aug 6.5" 4.8" 1.7" 💧 Light watering
Sep 6.5" 4.4" 2.1" 💧 Light watering
Oct 6.5" 3.3" 3.2" 💧 Light watering
Nov 6.5" 3.9" 2.6" 💧 Light watering
Dec 3.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Mar–Nov in Beauregard Parish). 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 ~867 GDD — county provides 4,635 GDD Excellent fit

Pac Choi Planting Timeline — Beauregard Parish, LA

Pac Choi Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors January 31 Jan 31 – Feb 14
Transplant Outdoors March 7 Mar 7 – Mar 21
Direct Sow February 21 Feb 21 – Mar 14
Harvest April 18 Apr 18 – May 16
Fall Sowing September 7 Sep 7 – Sep 21

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January Start Indoors
February Start Indoors Direct Sow
March Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
April Harvest
May Harvest
June
July
August
September Fall Sowing
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: too_acidic

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 8b

📆 Growing Season

254 days in Beauregard Parish

Growing Tips for Pac Choi in Beauregard Parish

Direct sow Pac Choi outdoors after March 07 in Beauregard Parish when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in Beauregard Parish dries quickly — mulch Pac Choi with 2-3 inches of straw and water deeply 2-3 times per week rather than lightly every day.

Your generous 254.0-day season in Beauregard Parish 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 Beauregard Parish, LA?

Beauregard Parish is in Zone 8b with an average last frost of March 7. Plan your Pac Choi planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Beauregard Parish, LA?

Beauregard Parish, Louisiana is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8b. The average last spring frost is March 7 and first fall frost is November 16.

🌱

Your Beauregard Parish Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Beauregard Parish (Zone 8b). 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 Beauregard Parish, LA. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.