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When to Plant Mizuna in Cheyenne County, NE

Cheyenne County, Nebraska Zone 5b May

Cheyenne County, Nebraska gardeners: here's your May plan

May rewards gardeners who work with the weather, not against it. Here's how to stay in step this month in Cheyenne County, Nebraska.

Avg. last frost May 11
Avg. first frost October 4
Soil temp (4") 55°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.3 hrs
  1. Plant out mizuna

    Pick a cloudy afternoon or evening to plant. Less transplant shock, and your seedlings will barely blink.

Before June arrives, get these ready
  • Starting indoors: mizuna
  • First harvests: 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.

Cheyenne County, Nebraska is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 11 and the first fall frost is October 4, giving you a growing season of approximately 146 days.

At an elevation of 1,108 feet, Cheyenne County receives approximately 26.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 84°F, so choose short-season varieties of Mizuna to ensure they mature before fall.

Cheyenne County, NE (Zone 5b) Short season
146 days
Last Spring Frost May 11
146 growing days
First Fall Frost October 4

Cheyenne County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.4-7.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (86 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 28 Transplant: May 2 🍅 Harvest: Jun 6 – Jul 4
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (83 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 6 Transplant: May 11 🍅 Harvest: Jun 15 – Jul 13
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (85 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 15 Transplant: May 20 🍅 Harvest: Jun 24 – Jul 22

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 Cheyenne County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.4–7.8) overlaps with Mizuna's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.7%). Annual compost additions will help Mizuna.

How to Plant Mizuna

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 Mizuna

5
successive plantings in your 146-day season

Sow every 3.4 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 20 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 26.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
You supply
0.3″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 353 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

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 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 4.3" 3.1" 1.2" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 1.6" 2.7" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 2.6" 1.7" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.3" 3" 1.3" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2.2" 2.1" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 2.4" 1.9" 💧 Light watering
Nov 1.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Oct in Cheyenne 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 ~488 GDD — county provides 1,898 GDD Excellent fit

Mizuna Planting Timeline — Cheyenne County, NE

Mizuna Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 6 Apr 6 – Apr 20
Transplant Outdoors May 11 May 11 – May 25
Direct Sow April 27 Apr 27 – May 18
Harvest June 15 Jun 15 – Jul 13
Fall Sowing July 26 Jul 26 – Aug 9

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · Only during dry spells

📅 Days to Maturity

30–45 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 5b

📆 Growing Season

146 days in Cheyenne County

Growing Tips for Mizuna in Cheyenne County

Direct sow Mizuna outdoors after May 11 in Cheyenne County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 146.0-day season in Cheyenne 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 Cheyenne County, NE?

Cheyenne County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of May 11. Plan your Mizuna planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Cheyenne County, NE?

Cheyenne County, Nebraska is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 11 and first fall frost is October 4.

🌱

Your Cheyenne County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Cheyenne County (Zone 5b). 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 Cheyenne County, NE. 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.