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When to Plant Tatsoi in Baker County, OR

Baker County, Oregon Zone 6b May

May in Baker County, Oregon — your action list

Here's what deserves your attention in Baker County, Oregon this month. Everything below is tailored to Zone 6b and timed around your local frost dates.

Avg. last frost May 30
Avg. first frost September 12
Soil temp (4") 58°F
Watering Critical
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.6 hrs
  1. Time to transplant tatsoi

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

  2. Put tatsoi seeds straight in the ground

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

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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.

Baker County, Oregon is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is May 30 and the first fall frost is September 12, giving you a growing season of approximately 105 days.

At an elevation of 1,398 feet, Baker County receives approximately 16.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 86°F, providing good warmth for Tatsoi during the growing season. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Tatsoi successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Baker County, OR (Zone 6b) Short season
105 days
Last Spring Frost May 30
105 growing days
First Fall Frost September 12
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Baker County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.3-6.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (40 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 14 Transplant: May 19 🍅 Harvest: Jun 23 – Jul 28
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (35 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 25 Transplant: May 30 🍅 Harvest: Jul 4 – Aug 8
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (35 days to spare)
Start indoors: May 15 Transplant: Jun 19 🍅 Harvest: Jul 24 – Aug 28

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 Baker County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.3–6.5) is more acidic than Tatsoi prefers (6.0–7.5). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

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

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Tatsoi.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.8%) — Tatsoi will thrive.

How to Plant Tatsoi

0.5"
Planting Depth
6"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

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

Succession Planting Tatsoi

3
successive plantings in your 105-day season

Sow every 4 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 24 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 04.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/week
You supply
0.6″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 583 gal / 100 sq ft

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 2.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 1.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 4.3" 1.1" 3.2" 🚿 Regular watering
Jun 4.3" 0.6" 3.7" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 0.2" 4.1" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 4.3" 0.3" 4" 🚿 Regular watering
Sep 4.3" 0.8" 3.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 2.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 3.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Baker 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 ~616 GDD — county provides 1,522 GDD Excellent fit

Tatsoi Planting Timeline — Baker County, OR

Tatsoi Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 25 Apr 25 – May 9
Transplant Outdoors May 30 May 30 – Jun 13
Direct Sow May 16 May 16 – Jun 6
Harvest July 4 Jul 4 – Aug 8
Fall Sowing July 4 Jul 4 – Jul 18

Plant 0.5" deep · 6" apart · Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March
April Start Indoors
May Start Indoors Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
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

35–50 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: too_acidic

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

📆 Growing Season

105 days in Baker County

Growing Tips for Tatsoi in Baker County

Direct sow Tatsoi outdoors after May 30 in Baker County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Tatsoi in this region include cabbage worm and flea beetles. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

Baker County receives only 17" of rain annually. Tatsoi needs consistent moisture — install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

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 Baker County, OR?

Baker County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of May 30. Plan your Tatsoi planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Baker County, OR?

Baker County, Oregon is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is May 30 and first fall frost is September 12.

🌱

Your Baker County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Baker County (Zone 6b). 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 Baker County, OR. 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.