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When to Plant Mitsuba in Horry County, SC

Horry County, South Carolina Zone 8b May

Your May game plan for Horry County, South Carolina

A quick May briefing for Horry County, South Carolina gardeners — what's urgent, what's next, and what can wait.

Avg. last frost March 23
Avg. first frost November 10
Soil temp (4") 73°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure High
Daylight 13.8 hrs
  1. Basket week: mitsuba

    This is the payoff month. Bring a basket, bring a friend, and get into the beds.

Looking ahead to June
  • 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.

Horry County, South Carolina is in USDA Zone 8b. The average last spring frost is March 23 and the first fall frost is November 10, giving you a growing season of approximately 232 days.

At an elevation of 439 feet, Horry County receives approximately 53.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 94°F, providing good warmth for Mitsuba during the growing season. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring — great for early planting — but Mitsuba will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Mitsuba root diseases.

Horry County, SC (Zone 8b) Long season
232 days
Last Spring Frost March 23
232 growing days
First Fall Frost November 10
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Horry County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

4.9-5.9

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (132 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 4 Transplant: Mar 4 🍅 Harvest: Apr 29 – Jun 24
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (127 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 16 Transplant: Mar 16 🍅 Harvest: May 11 – Jul 6
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (122 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 6 Transplant: Apr 3 🍅 Harvest: May 29 – Jul 24

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 Horry County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (4.9–5.9) is more acidic than Mitsuba prefers (6.0–7.0). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

Sandy soil in Horry County warms quickly in spring but drains fast. Mitsuba will need more frequent watering and regular compost additions to retain nutrients.

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Mitsuba.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is low (1.8%). Add 2-3 inches of compost before planting Mitsuba.

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

5
successive plantings in your 232-day season

Sow every 5.7 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 01 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Sep 01.

Plant Water Budget

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

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 4.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 4.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 4.3" 5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Apr 4.3" 3.8" 0.5" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 4.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.3" 4.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 5.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 5.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 4" 0.3" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 3" 1.3" 💧 Light watering
Nov 4.3" 4.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Dec 4.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Mar–Nov in Horry 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 ~1,230 GDD — county provides 4,756 GDD Excellent fit

Mitsuba Planting Timeline — Horry County, SC

Mitsuba Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 16 Feb 16 – Mar 2
Transplant Outdoors March 16 Mar 16 – Mar 30
Direct Sow March 9 Mar 9 – Mar 30
Harvest May 11 May 11 – Jul 6
Fall Sowing September 1 Sep 1 – Sep 15

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

50–70 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: too_acidic

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 8b

📆 Growing Season

232 days in Horry County

Growing Tips for Mitsuba in Horry County

Direct sow Mitsuba outdoors after March 23 in Horry County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in Horry County dries quickly — mulch Mitsuba with 2-3 inches of straw and water deeply 2-3 times per week rather than lightly every day.

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 Horry County, SC?

Horry County is in Zone 8b with an average last frost of March 23. Plan your Mitsuba planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Horry County, SC?

Horry County, South Carolina is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8b. The average last spring frost is March 23 and first fall frost is November 10.

🌱

Your Horry County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Horry County (Zone 8b). 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 Horry County, SC. 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.