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When to Plant Pac Choi in Marshall County, OK

Marshall County, Oklahoma Zone 8a May

May in Marshall County, Oklahoma — your action list

Your garden in Marshall County, Oklahoma is working on a schedule, even when you're not. Here's where you should be this May.

Avg. last frost March 24
Avg. first frost November 12
Soil temp (4") 70°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 13.8 hrs
  1. Bring in the pac choi

    If you can't use it all right away, check the food-preservation section of your planner.

Looking ahead to June
  • First harvests: pac choi

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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.

Marshall County, Oklahoma is in USDA Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 24 and the first fall frost is November 12, giving you a growing season of approximately 233 days.

At an elevation of 520 feet, Marshall County receives approximately 23.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 92°F, providing good warmth for Pac Choi during the growing season.

Marshall County, OK (Zone 8a) Long season
233 days
Last Spring Frost March 24
233 growing days
First Fall Frost November 12

Marshall County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.2-7.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (167 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 4 Transplant: Mar 11 🍅 Harvest: Apr 22 – May 20
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (163 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 17 Transplant: Mar 24 🍅 Harvest: May 5 – Jun 2
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (160 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 10 Transplant: Apr 14 🍅 Harvest: May 26 – Jun 23

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 Marshall County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.2–7.8) overlaps with Pac Choi's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Drainage

Pac Choi is a heavy drinker but your soil drains very quickly. Mulch heavily and consider drip irrigation.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.5%). Annual compost additions will help Pac Choi.

How to Plant Pac Choi

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

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

Succession Planting Pac Choi

7
successive plantings in your 233-day season

Sow every 4.6 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 18 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Sep 03.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.4″/week
You supply
1.8″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 3,789 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 0.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 6.5" 1.6" 4.9" 🚿 Regular watering
Apr 6.5" 2.3" 4.2" 🚿 Regular watering
May 6.5" 4" 2.5" 💧 Light watering
Jun 6.5" 3.4" 3.1" 💧 Light watering
Jul 6.5" 3" 3.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 6.5" 2.8" 3.7" 🚿 Regular watering
Sep 6.5" 2.4" 4.1" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 6.5" 1.3" 5.2" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 6.5" 0.9" 5.6" 🚿 Regular watering
Dec 0.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Mar–Nov in Marshall 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 ~902 GDD — county provides 4,427 GDD Excellent fit

Pac Choi Planting Timeline — Marshall County, OK

Pac Choi Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 17 Feb 17 – Mar 3
Transplant Outdoors March 24 Mar 24 – Apr 7
Direct Sow March 10 Mar 10 – Mar 31
Harvest May 5 May 5 – Jun 2
Fall Sowing September 3 Sep 3 – Sep 17

Plant 1" deep · 15" apart · Rows 24" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February Start Indoors
March Start Indoors Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
April Transplant Outdoors
May Harvest
June Harvest
July
August
September Fall Sowing
October
November
December

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: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 8a

📆 Growing Season

233 days in Marshall County

Growing Tips for Pac Choi in Marshall County

Direct sow Pac Choi outdoors after March 24 in Marshall County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 233.0-day season in Marshall County allows multiple plantings of Pac Choi. Sow every 20.0 days for continuous harvest.

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.

Marshall County receives only 24" of rain annually. Pac Choi needs consistent moisture — install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

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 Marshall County, OK?

Marshall County is in Zone 8a with an average last frost of March 24. Plan your Pac Choi planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Marshall County, OK?

Marshall County, Oklahoma is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 24 and first fall frost is November 12.

🌱

Your Marshall County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Marshall County (Zone 8a). 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 Marshall County, OK. 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.