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When to Plant Tatsoi in Rolette County, ND

Rolette County, North Dakota Zone 3b May

Your May planting checklist for Rolette County, North Dakota

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 tatsoi

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

  2. Sow tatsoi where they'll grow

    Rake a smooth bed, make a shallow furrow, drop seeds at the spacing on the packet, water gently, walk away.

June will be here before you know it — start on
  • Starting indoors: tatsoi
  • First harvests: tatsoi
  • Fall 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.

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 Tatsoi 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 (61 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 30 Transplant: May 11 🍅 Harvest: Jun 15 – Jul 20
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (58 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 5 Transplant: May 17 🍅 Harvest: Jun 21 – Jul 26
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (61 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 16 Transplant: May 28 🍅 Harvest: Jul 2 – Aug 6

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 Tatsoi's growing requirements.

Soil pH

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

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.8%). 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 128-day season

Sow every 4 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 03 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 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 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.

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 ~361 GDD — county provides 1,088 GDD Excellent fit

Tatsoi Planting Timeline — Rolette County, ND

Tatsoi 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 26
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

35–50 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 3b

📆 Growing Season

128 days in Rolette County

Growing Tips for Tatsoi in Rolette County

Direct sow Tatsoi 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 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 Rolette County, ND?

Rolette County is in Zone 3b with an average last frost of May 17. Plan your Tatsoi 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.

🌱

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.