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When to Plant Mizuna in Rolette County, ND

Rolette County, North Dakota Zone 3b May

What to do in May

Each item below is timed to Rolette County, North Dakota's frost dates and soil temperatures. Skip nothing, stress about nothing.

Avg. last frost May 17
Avg. first frost September 22
Soil temp (4") 49°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 15 hrs
  1. Time to transplant mizuna

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

  2. Direct-sow mizuna

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

Coming up in June — start thinking about
  • Starting indoors: mizuna
  • First harvests: mizuna
  • Fall sowing: 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.

Rolette County, North Dakota is in USDA Zone 3b. The average last spring frost is May 17 and the first fall frost is September 22, giving you a growing season of approximately 128 days.

At an elevation of 998 feet, Rolette County receives approximately 31.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 78°F, so choose short-season varieties of Mizuna to ensure they mature before fall.

Rolette County, ND (Zone 3b) Short season
128 days
Last Spring Frost May 17
128 growing days
First Fall Frost September 22
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Rolette County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-7.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (68 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 30 Transplant: May 11 🍅 Harvest: Jun 15 – Jul 13
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (65 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 5 Transplant: May 17 🍅 Harvest: Jun 21 – Jul 19
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (68 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 16 Transplant: May 28 🍅 Harvest: Jul 2 – Jul 30

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 Rolette County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.5–7.8) overlaps with Mizuna's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

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

How to Plant Mizuna

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 Mizuna

5
successive plantings in your 128-day season

Sow every 3.4 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 08 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jun 30.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
1.0″/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 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 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 3.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 4.3" 4.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.3" 5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 4.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 3.7" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2.8" 1.5" 💧 Light watering
Oct 2.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 0.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Rolette 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 ~319 GDD — county provides 1,088 GDD Excellent fit

Mizuna Planting Timeline — Rolette County, ND

Mizuna Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 5 Apr 5 – Apr 19
Transplant Outdoors May 17 May 17 – May 31
Direct Sow May 10 May 10 – May 31
Harvest June 21 Jun 21 – Jul 19
Fall Sowing June 30 Jun 30 – Jul 14

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 Fall Sowing Harvest
July Fall Sowing Harvest
August
September
October
November
December
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Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

30–45 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 3b

📆 Growing Season

128 days in Rolette County

Growing Tips for Mizuna in Rolette County

Direct sow Mizuna outdoors after May 17 in Rolette County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 128.0-day season in Rolette 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 Rolette County, ND?

Rolette County is in Zone 3b with an average last frost of May 17. Plan your Mizuna planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Rolette County, ND?

Rolette County, North Dakota is in USDA Hardiness Zone 3b. The average last spring frost is May 17 and first fall frost is September 22.

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Your Rolette County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Rolette County (Zone 3b). 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 Rolette 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.