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When to Plant Bok Choy in Wheeler County, OR

Wheeler County, Oregon Zone 7a May

This month in Wheeler County, Oregon

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

Avg. last frost May 23
Avg. first frost September 23
Soil temp (4") 55°F
Watering High
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.6 hrs
  1. Get bok choy in the ground

    Bring a watering can to the bed. Each transplant gets a drink the moment it's in the ground, not ten minutes later.

  2. Plant bok choy from seed, right in the garden

    Your soil is 55°F — warm enough for these to germinate without babying.

Looking ahead to June
  • Starting indoors: bok choy

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Bok choy is a Chinese cabbage variety with crisp white stalks and dark green leaves. It is a fast-growing cool-season crop ideal for stir-fries and soups.

Wheeler County, Oregon is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is May 23 and the first fall frost is September 23, giving you a growing season of approximately 123 days.

At an elevation of 2,175 feet, Wheeler County receives approximately 22.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 83°F, so choose short-season varieties of Bok Choy to ensure they mature before fall.

Wheeler County, OR (Zone 7a) Short season
123 days
Last Spring Frost May 23
123 growing days
First Fall Frost September 23

Wheeler County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.2-6.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (40 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 11 Transplant: May 16 🍅 Harvest: Jun 27 – Aug 1
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (46 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 18 Transplant: May 23 🍅 Harvest: Jul 4 – Aug 8
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (48 days to spare)
Start indoors: May 15 Transplant: Jun 19 🍅 Harvest: Jul 31 – Sep 4

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 Wheeler County

How your county's soil matches Bok Choy's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.2–6.3) is more acidic than Bok Choy prefers (6.0–7.5). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (5.7%) — Bok Choy will thrive.

How to Plant Bok Choy

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 Bok Choy

3
successive plantings in your 123-day season

Sow every 4.6 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 25 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 15.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.7″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft

Monthly Watering Guide for Bok Choy

Bok Choy needs approximately 0.7 inches of water per week (3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Bok Choy Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 2.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 3" 1.5" 1.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Jun 3" 1" 2" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 3" 0.4" 2.6" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 3" 0.4" 2.6" 🚿 Regular watering
Sep 3" 0.8" 2.2" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 2.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 3.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 3.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Wheeler County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Bok Choy 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.

Bok Choy needs ~612 GDD — county provides 1,506 GDD Excellent fit

Bok Choy Planting Timeline — Wheeler County, OR

Bok Choy Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 18 Apr 18 – May 2
Transplant Outdoors May 23 May 23 – Jun 6
Direct Sow May 9 May 9 – May 30
Harvest July 4 Jul 4 – Aug 8
Fall Sowing July 15 Jul 15 – Jul 29

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

0.7"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

40–60 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: too_acidic

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

📆 Growing Season

123 days in Wheeler County

Growing Tips for Bok Choy in Wheeler County

Direct sow Bok Choy outdoors after May 23 in Wheeler County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Bok Choy 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 for best results. Keep soil consistently moist. Harvest whole heads or cut outer leaves for a cut-and-come-again approach.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Strawberries

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Bok Choy in Wheeler County, OR?

Wheeler County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of May 23. Plan your Bok Choy planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Wheeler County, OR?

Wheeler County, Oregon is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is May 23 and first fall frost is September 23.

🌱

Your Wheeler County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Wheeler County (Zone 7a). 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 Wheeler 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.