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When to Plant Pac Choi in Warren County, MO

Warren County, Missouri Zone 6b May

May in the garden — Warren County, Missouri

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

Avg. last frost April 11
Avg. first frost October 25
Soil temp (4") 62°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.1 hrs
  1. Begin indoor sowing: pac choi

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

  2. Basket week: pac choi

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

Looking ahead to June
  • First harvests: pac choi

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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.

Warren County, Missouri is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 11 and the first fall frost is October 25, giving you a growing season of approximately 197 days.

At an elevation of 654 feet, Warren County receives approximately 30 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 89°F, providing good warmth for Pac Choi during the growing season.

Warren County, MO (Zone 6b) Moderate season
197 days
Last Spring Frost April 11
197 growing days
First Fall Frost October 25
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Warren County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.5-6.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (125 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 1 Transplant: Apr 5 🍅 Harvest: May 17 – Jun 14
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (127 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 7 Transplant: Apr 11 🍅 Harvest: May 23 – Jun 20
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (126 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 19 Transplant: Apr 23 🍅 Harvest: Jun 4 – Jul 2

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 Warren County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.5–6.5) overlaps with Pac Choi's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.1%). 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 197-day season

Sow every 4.6 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 31 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 16.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.6″/week
You supply
0.9″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 1,509 gal / 100 sq ft

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 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 6.5" 2.6" 3.9" 🚿 Regular watering
May 6.5" 3.2" 3.3" 🚿 Regular watering
Jun 6.5" 3.9" 2.6" 💧 Light watering
Jul 6.5" 3.2" 3.3" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 6.5" 3.6" 2.9" 💧 Light watering
Sep 6.5" 2.3" 4.2" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 6.5" 2.2" 4.3" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 2.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Warren 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 ~796 GDD — county provides 3,299 GDD Excellent fit

Pac Choi Planting Timeline — Warren County, MO

Pac Choi Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 7 Mar 7 – Mar 21
Transplant Outdoors April 11 Apr 11 – Apr 25
Direct Sow March 28 Mar 28 – Apr 18
Harvest May 23 May 23 – Jun 20
Fall Sowing August 16 Aug 16 – Aug 30

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
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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

197 days in Warren County

Growing Tips for Pac Choi in Warren County

Direct sow Pac Choi outdoors after April 11 in Warren County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 197.0-day season in Warren 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 Warren County, MO?

Warren County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of April 11. Plan your Pac Choi planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Warren County, MO?

Warren County, Missouri is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 11 and first fall frost is October 25.

🌱

Your Warren County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Warren 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 Warren County, MO. 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.