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When to Plant Mizuna in Sherburne County, MN

Sherburne County, Minnesota Zone 4a April

This month in Sherburne County, Minnesota

If you only do a handful of things in the garden this April, make it these. They're sequenced around your zone's frost timing.

Avg. last frost May 1
Avg. first frost October 6
Soil temp (4") 41°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 13.3 hrs
  1. Put mizuna seeds straight in the ground

    Thin ruthlessly once seedlings are up. Crowded roots mean smaller crops from every plant.

To set up a strong May, finish these tasks
  • Transplants going out: mizuna

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Mizuna is a mild-flavored Japanese mustard green with feathery, deeply serrated leaves. It is fast-growing and makes an excellent addition to salads and stir-fries.

Sherburne County, Minnesota is in USDA Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 1 and the first fall frost is October 6, giving you a growing season of approximately 158 days.

At an elevation of 568 feet, Sherburne County receives approximately 38.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 82°F, so choose short-season varieties of Mizuna to ensure they mature before fall.

Sherburne County, MN (Zone 4a) Moderate season
158 days
Last Spring Frost May 1
158 growing days
First Fall Frost October 6
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Sherburne County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6-7.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (93 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 14 Transplant: Apr 25 🍅 Harvest: May 30 – Jun 27
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (95 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 20 Transplant: May 1 🍅 Harvest: Jun 5 – Jul 3
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (91 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 6 Transplant: May 18 🍅 Harvest: Jun 22 – Jul 20

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 Sherburne County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.0–7.1) is within Mizuna's preferred range (6.0–7.5).

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.8%). Annual compost additions will help Mizuna.

How to Plant Mizuna

0.5"
Planting Depth
6"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Fall planting: Sow 12 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Mizuna

6
successive plantings in your 158-day season

Sow every 3.4 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 22 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 14.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
1.0″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft

Monthly Watering Guide for Mizuna

Mizuna needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Mizuna Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 3.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 4.3" 4.2" 0.1" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 4.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 4.1" 0.2" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.3" 4.1" 0.2" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 3.4" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 2.8" 1.5" 💧 Light watering
Nov 2.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Mizuna 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.

Mizuna needs ~431 GDD — county provides 1,817 GDD Excellent fit

Mizuna Planting Timeline — Sherburne County, MN

Mizuna Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 20 Mar 20 – Apr 3
Transplant Outdoors May 1 May 1 – May 15
Direct Sow April 24 Apr 24 – May 15
Harvest June 5 Jun 5 – Jul 3
Fall Sowing July 14 Jul 14 – Jul 28

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March Start Indoors
April Start Indoors Direct Sow
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June Harvest
July Fall Sowing Harvest
August
September
October
November
December
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Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

30–45 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: ideal

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 4a

📆 Growing Season

158 days in Sherburne County

Growing Tips for Mizuna in Sherburne County

Direct sow Mizuna outdoors after May 01 in Sherburne County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 158.0-day season in Sherburne County allows multiple plantings of Mizuna. Sow every 15.0 days for continuous harvest.

Common pests for Mizuna 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. Harvest outer leaves as needed for a cut-and-come-again approach. Mizuna is one of the most cold-tolerant Asian greens.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Strawberries

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Mizuna in Sherburne County, MN?

Sherburne County is in Zone 4a with an average last frost of May 1. Plan your Mizuna planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Sherburne County, MN?

Sherburne County, Minnesota is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 1 and first fall frost is October 6.

🌱

Your Sherburne County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Sherburne County (Zone 4a). 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 Sherburne County, MN. 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.