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When to Plant Mitsuba in Stutsman County, ND

Stutsman County, North Dakota Zone 4a May

What to do in May

If you only do a handful of things in the garden this May, make it these. They're sequenced around your zone's frost timing.

Avg. last frost May 9
Avg. first frost September 30
Soil temp (4") 53°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.9 hrs
  1. Harden off and plant mitsuba

    Plant tomatoes deep — bury the stem up to the first true leaves to grow extra roots. Everything else goes in at the same depth it grew in the tray.

  2. Plant mitsuba from seed, right in the garden

    Succession planting is the secret here. Put in a row now, another in 2 weeks, a third in 4.

Get ahead of June
  • 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.

Stutsman County, North Dakota is in USDA Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 9 and the first fall frost is September 30, giving you a growing season of approximately 144 days.

At an elevation of 907 feet, Stutsman County receives approximately 28.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 81°F, so choose short-season varieties of Mitsuba to ensure they mature before fall.

Stutsman County, ND (Zone 4a) Short season
144 days
Last Spring Frost May 9
144 growing days
First Fall Frost September 30
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Stutsman 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 (41 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 20 Transplant: Apr 24 🍅 Harvest: Jun 19 – Aug 14
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (39 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 28 Transplant: May 2 🍅 Harvest: Jun 27 – Aug 22
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (43 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 7 Transplant: May 12 🍅 Harvest: Jul 7 – Sep 1

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 Stutsman County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.6–7.3) overlaps with Mitsuba's range (6.0–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Mitsuba.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.2%) — Mitsuba will thrive.

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 144-day season

Sow every 5.7 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 22 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 08.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
You supply
0.6″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 730 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 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 4.3" 4.1" 0.2" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 4.2" 0.1" 💧 Light watering
Jul 4.3" 3.4" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.3" 3.3" 1" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2.6" 1.7" 💧 Light watering
Oct 2.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 1.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Stutsman 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 ~645 GDD — county provides 1,548 GDD Excellent fit

Mitsuba Planting Timeline — Stutsman County, ND

Mitsuba Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 28 Mar 28 – Apr 11
Transplant Outdoors May 2 May 2 – May 16
Direct Sow May 2 May 2 – May 23
Harvest June 27 Jun 27 – Aug 22
Fall Sowing July 8 Jul 8 – Jul 22

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
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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

144 days in Stutsman County

Growing Tips for Mitsuba in Stutsman County

Direct sow Mitsuba outdoors after May 09 in Stutsman 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.

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 Stutsman County, ND?

Stutsman County is in Zone 4a with an average last frost of May 9. Plan your Mitsuba planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Stutsman County, ND?

Stutsman County, North Dakota is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 9 and first fall frost is September 30.

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Your Stutsman County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Stutsman 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 Stutsman 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.