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When to Plant Mitsuba in Champaign County, OH

Champaign County, Ohio Zone 6a August

Your August planting checklist for Champaign County, Ohio

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

Avg. last frost April 25
Avg. first frost October 17
Soil temp (4") 76°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure High
Daylight 13.6 hrs
  1. Basket week: mitsuba

    Morning harvests are best — cooler temperatures mean crisper produce and longer fridge life.

  2. Start your fall crops: mitsuba

    Keep young seedlings shaded and moist in summer heat. A row of taller crops works as natural shade.

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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.

Champaign County, Ohio is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 25 and the first fall frost is October 17, giving you a growing season of approximately 175 days.

At an elevation of 980 feet, Champaign County receives approximately 37.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 86°F, providing good warmth for Mitsuba during the growing season.

Champaign County, OH (Zone 6a) Moderate season
175 days
Last Spring Frost April 25
175 growing days
First Fall Frost October 17

Champaign County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.7-6.9

Drainage

Well Drained

Mitsuba Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (73 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 13 Transplant: Apr 10 🍅 Harvest: Jun 5 – Jul 31
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (70 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 21 Transplant: Apr 18 🍅 Harvest: Jun 13 – Aug 8
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (64 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 7 Transplant: May 5 🍅 Harvest: Jun 30 – Aug 25

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 Champaign County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.7–6.9) overlaps with Mitsuba's range (6.0–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Champaign 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 (4.9%) — Mitsuba will thrive.

How to Plant Mitsuba

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

Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Mitsuba

4
successive plantings in your 175-day season

Sow every 5.7 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 08 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 08.

Mitsuba Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/week
You supply
0.5″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 739 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 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 3.4" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 4.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.3" 5.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 3.7" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.3" 3.5" 0.8" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 3.2" 1.1" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 2.9" 1.4" 💧 Light watering
Nov 3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 2.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Champaign 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 ~870 GDD — county provides 2,537 GDD Excellent fit

Mitsuba Planting Timeline — Champaign County, OH

Mitsuba Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 21 Mar 21 – Apr 4
Transplant Outdoors April 18 Apr 18 – May 2
Direct Sow April 11 Apr 11 – May 2
Harvest June 13 Jun 13 – Aug 8
Fall Sowing August 8 Aug 8 – Aug 22

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March Start Indoors
April Start Indoors Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June Harvest
July Harvest
August Fall Sowing 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 6a

📆 Growing Season

175 days in Champaign County

Growing Tips for Mitsuba in Champaign County

Direct sow Mitsuba outdoors after April 25 in Champaign 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 Champaign County, OH?

Champaign County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 25. Plan your Mitsuba planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Champaign County, OH?

Champaign County, Ohio is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 25 and first fall frost is October 17.

🌱

Your Champaign County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Champaign County (Zone 6a). 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 Champaign County, OH. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: August 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.