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When to Plant Tatsoi in Adams County, ND

Adams County, North Dakota Zone 4a April

Top priorities for Adams County, North Dakota gardeners in April

Your Adams County, North Dakota garden is entering a new phase. Here's what's on the schedule for April and why each task matters now.

Avg. last frost May 14
Avg. first frost September 27
Soil temp (4") 39°F
Watering High
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 13.3 hrs
Before May arrives, get these ready
  • Transplants going out: tatsoi
  • Direct-sowing: tatsoi

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Tatsoi is a compact Asian green forming beautiful rosettes of dark, spoon-shaped leaves with a mild mustard flavor. It is extremely cold-hardy and versatile.

Adams County, North Dakota is in USDA Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 14 and the first fall frost is September 27, giving you a growing season of approximately 136 days.

At an elevation of 1,100 feet, Adams County receives approximately 27.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 81°F, so choose short-season varieties of Tatsoi to ensure they mature before fall.

Adams County, ND (Zone 4a) Short season
136 days
Last Spring Frost May 14
136 growing days
First Fall Frost September 27

Adams County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.6-7.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (62 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 30 Transplant: May 11 🍅 Harvest: Jun 15 – Jul 20
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (66 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 2 Transplant: May 14 🍅 Harvest: Jun 18 – Jul 23
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (70 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 13 Transplant: May 25 🍅 Harvest: Jun 29 – Aug 3

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 Adams County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.6–7.3) is within Tatsoi's preferred range (6.0–7.5).

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.2%). Annual compost additions will help Tatsoi.

How to Plant Tatsoi

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 Tatsoi

4
successive plantings in your 136-day season

Sow every 4 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 08 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 05.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/week
You supply
0.2″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 223 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Monthly Watering Guide for Tatsoi

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

Month Tatsoi Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 4.3" 2.9" 1.4" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 1.8" 2.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 2.5" 1.8" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.3" 3.1" 1.2" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2.5" 1.8" 💧 Light watering
Oct 2.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 1.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Tatsoi 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.

Tatsoi needs ~457 GDD — county provides 1,462 GDD Excellent fit

Tatsoi Planting Timeline — Adams County, ND

Tatsoi Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 2 Apr 2 – Apr 16
Transplant Outdoors May 14 May 14 – May 28
Direct Sow May 7 May 7 – May 28
Harvest June 18 Jun 18 – Jul 23
Fall Sowing July 5 Jul 5 – Jul 19

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · Only during dry spells

📅 Days to Maturity

35–50 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: ideal

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 4a

📆 Growing Season

136 days in Adams County

Growing Tips for Tatsoi in Adams County

Direct sow Tatsoi outdoors after May 14 in Adams County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 136.0-day season in Adams County allows multiple plantings of Tatsoi. Sow every 17.0 days for continuous harvest.

Common pests for Tatsoi 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. Tatsoi tolerates frost down to 15F. Harvest outer leaves or cut whole rosettes. Excellent in salads, stir-fries, or lightly wilted.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Strawberries

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Tatsoi in Adams County, ND?

Adams County is in Zone 4a with an average last frost of May 14. Plan your Tatsoi planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Adams County, ND?

Adams County, North Dakota is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 14 and first fall frost is September 27.

🌱

Your Adams County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Adams 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 Adams County, ND. 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.