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When to Plant Mitsuba in Burleigh County, ND

Burleigh County, North Dakota Zone 4a May

May to-do list for Burleigh County, North Dakota

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

Avg. last frost May 12
Avg. first frost September 27
Soil temp (4") 56°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.8 hrs
  1. Move mitsuba from tray to bed

    Your last frost (May 12) has passed. These warm-season crops can handle outdoor soil now.

  2. Scatter mitsuba into prepared beds

    Mark the row. Birds and stray feet both have opinions about unmarked beds.

June prep starts now
  • Starting indoors: mitsuba
  • First harvests: mitsuba

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Mitsuba (Japanese parsley) is a shade-loving herb with trefoil leaves and a mild celery-parsley flavor. It is essential in Japanese cuisine for soups, salads, and garnishes.

Burleigh County, North Dakota is in USDA Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 12 and the first fall frost is September 27, giving you a growing season of approximately 138 days.

At an elevation of 1,102 feet, Burleigh County receives approximately 23.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 82°F, so choose short-season varieties of Mitsuba to ensure they mature before fall.

Burleigh County, ND (Zone 4a) Short season
138 days
Last Spring Frost May 12
138 growing days
First Fall Frost September 27

Burleigh County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.7-7.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (31 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 26 Transplant: Apr 30 🍅 Harvest: Jun 25 – Aug 20
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (33 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 31 Transplant: May 5 🍅 Harvest: Jun 30 – Aug 25
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (30 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 14 Transplant: May 19 🍅 Harvest: Jul 14 – Sep 8

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 Burleigh County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.7–7.3) overlaps with Mitsuba's range (6.0–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

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

How to Plant Mitsuba

0.5"
Planting Depth
8"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

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

Succession Planting Mitsuba

3
successive plantings in your 138-day season

Sow every 5.7 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 19 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 05.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/week
You supply
0.4″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 438 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Monthly Watering Guide for Mitsuba

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

Month Mitsuba Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 4.3" 3" 1.3" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 1.5" 2.8" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 1.8" 2.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 4.3" 2.7" 1.6" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 1.9" 2.4" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 2.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Mitsuba 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.

Mitsuba needs ~690 GDD — county provides 1,587 GDD Excellent fit

Mitsuba Planting Timeline — Burleigh County, ND

Mitsuba Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 31 Mar 31 – Apr 14
Transplant Outdoors May 5 May 5 – May 19
Direct Sow May 5 May 5 – May 26
Harvest June 30 Jun 30 – Aug 25
Fall Sowing July 5 Jul 5 – Jul 19

Plant 0.5" deep · 8" apart · Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

50–70 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 4a

📆 Growing Season

138 days in Burleigh County

Growing Tips for Mitsuba in Burleigh County

Direct sow Mitsuba outdoors after May 12 in Burleigh County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Mitsuba in this region include carrot rust fly and parsleyworm. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

Burleigh County receives only 23" of rain annually. Mitsuba needs consistent moisture — install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

General growing tips

Direct sow or start indoors in partial shade. Mitsuba prefers cool, moist conditions. Harvest outer stems as needed. Self-sows readily in shaded garden areas.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Mitsuba in Burleigh County, ND?

Burleigh County is in Zone 4a with an average last frost of May 12. Plan your Mitsuba planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Burleigh County, ND?

Burleigh County, North Dakota is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 12 and first fall frost is September 27.

🌱

Your Burleigh County Garden Planner — Free

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