Blog

When to Plant Pac Choi in Eddy County, ND

Eddy County, North Dakota Zone 4a May

May in the garden — Eddy County, North Dakota

We've pulled the most time-sensitive tasks for Eddy County, North Dakota this May and put them front and centre. Tackle them in order.

Avg. last frost May 13
Avg. first frost September 27
Soil temp (4") 51°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.9 hrs
  1. Get pac choi in the ground

    Water the tray well an hour before you transplant. Roots slide out cleanly and settle in faster.

  2. Scatter pac choi into prepared beds

    Keep the top inch of soil moist until germination — a gentle morning watering for 5–7 days does the job.

June prep starts now
  • Starting indoors: pac choi
  • First harvests: pac choi

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

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.

Eddy County, North Dakota is in USDA Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 13 and the first fall frost is September 27, giving you a growing season of approximately 137 days.

At an elevation of 864 feet, Eddy County receives approximately 29.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 78°F, so choose short-season varieties of Pac Choi to ensure they mature before fall.

Eddy County, ND (Zone 4a) Short season
137 days
Last Spring Frost May 13
137 growing days
First Fall Frost September 27
Share this guide:

Eddy County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.4-7.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (68 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 26 Transplant: May 7 🍅 Harvest: Jun 18 – Jul 16
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (67 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 1 Transplant: May 13 🍅 Harvest: Jun 24 – Jul 22
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (70 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 13 Transplant: May 25 🍅 Harvest: Jul 6 – 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 Eddy County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.4–7.4) is within Pac Choi's preferred range (6.0–7.5).

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.6%). Annual compost additions will help Pac Choi.

How to Plant Pac Choi

1"
Planting Depth
15"
Between Plants
24"
Between Rows

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

Succession Planting Pac Choi

4
successive plantings in your 137-day season

Sow every 4.6 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 03 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 05.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/week
You supply
0.7″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 880 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

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 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 6.5" 4.8" 1.7" 💧 Light watering
Jun 6.5" 4.3" 2.2" 💧 Light watering
Jul 6.5" 3.5" 3" 💧 Light watering
Aug 6.5" 3.7" 2.8" 💧 Light watering
Sep 6.5" 2.4" 4.1" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 2.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Eddy 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 ~404 GDD — county provides 1,164 GDD Excellent fit

Pac Choi Planting Timeline — Eddy County, ND

Pac Choi Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 1 Apr 1 – Apr 15
Transplant Outdoors May 13 May 13 – May 27
Direct Sow May 6 May 6 – May 27
Harvest June 24 Jun 24 – Jul 22
Fall Sowing July 5 Jul 5 – Jul 19

Plant 1" deep · 15" apart · Rows 24" 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
Share this guide:

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: ideal

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 4a

📆 Growing Season

137 days in Eddy County

Growing Tips for Pac Choi in Eddy County

Direct sow Pac Choi outdoors after May 13 in Eddy County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

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 Eddy County, ND?

Eddy County is in Zone 4a with an average last frost of May 13. Plan your Pac Choi planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Eddy County, ND?

Eddy County, North Dakota is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 13 and first fall frost is September 27.

🌱

Your Eddy County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Eddy 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.

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 Eddy 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.