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When to Plant Mustard Greens in Wright County, MO

Wright County, Missouri Zone 7a May

This month in Wright County, Missouri

Your Wright County, Missouri garden is entering a new phase. Here's what's on the schedule for May and why each task matters now.

Avg. last frost April 11
Avg. first frost October 22
Soil temp (4") 64°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14 hrs
  1. Begin indoor sowing: mustard greens

    Give them 6–8 weeks indoors before the last frost and you'll transplant into warm soil with seedlings that are already leaping.

  2. Harvest mustard greens as they ripen

    This is the payoff month. Bring a basket, bring a friend, and get into the beds.

June prep starts now
  • First harvests: mustard greens

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Mustard greens are fast-growing brassicas with a spicy, peppery kick. They come in green, red, and purple varieties and are excellent cooked or in salads.

Wright County, Missouri is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 11 and the first fall frost is October 22, giving you a growing season of approximately 194 days.

At an elevation of 923 feet, Wright County receives approximately 32.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 86°F, providing good warmth for Mustard Greens during the growing season.

Wright County, MO (Zone 7a) Moderate season
194 days
Last Spring Frost April 11
194 growing days
First Fall Frost October 22

Wright County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.5-7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (96 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 1 Transplant: Apr 5 🍅 Harvest: May 10 – Jul 12
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (96 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 7 Transplant: Apr 11 🍅 Harvest: May 16 – Jul 18
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (96 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 21 Transplant: Apr 25 🍅 Harvest: May 30 – Aug 1

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 Wright County

How your county's soil matches Mustard Greens's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.5–7.0) overlaps with Mustard Greens's range (6.0–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.8%). Annual compost additions will help Mustard Greens.

How to Plant Mustard Greens

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 Mustard Greens

7
successive plantings in your 194-day season

Sow every 3.4 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 02 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 13.

Plant Water Budget

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

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

Monthly Watering Guide for Mustard Greens

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

Month Mustard Greens Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 3" 3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 3" 4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 3" 3.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3" 3.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3" 3.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3" 2.5" 0.5" 💧 Light watering
Oct 3" 2.5" 0.5" 💧 Light watering
Nov 2.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Mustard Greens 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.

Mustard Greens needs ~580 GDD — county provides 2,813 GDD Excellent fit

Mustard Greens Planting Timeline — Wright County, MO

Mustard Greens 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 16 May 16 – Jul 18
Fall Sowing August 13 Aug 13 – Aug 27

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

0.7"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

30–50 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

📆 Growing Season

194 days in Wright County

Growing Tips for Mustard Greens in Wright County

Direct sow Mustard Greens outdoors after April 11 in Wright County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 194.0-day season in Wright County allows multiple plantings of Mustard Greens. Sow every 15.0 days for continuous harvest.

Common pests for Mustard Greens 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 early spring or fall. Harvest young leaves for milder flavor. Plants bolt quickly in heat so grow as a cool-season crop or provide shade.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Strawberries

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Mustard Greens in Wright County, MO?

Wright County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 11. Plan your Mustard Greens planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Wright County, MO?

Wright County, Missouri is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 11 and first fall frost is October 22.

🌱

Your Wright County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Wright 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.

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 Wright 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.