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When to Plant Mitsuba in Cheatham County, TN

Cheatham County, Tennessee Zone 7b May

Top priorities for Cheatham County, Tennessee gardeners in May

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

Avg. last frost April 5
Avg. first frost October 29
Soil temp (4") 64°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 13.9 hrs
  1. Start mitsuba indoors

    Starting these indoors now means sturdy transplants ready the moment your soil warms up.

  2. It's harvest week for mitsuba

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

To set up a strong June, finish these tasks
  • 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.

Cheatham County, Tennessee is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 5 and the first fall frost is October 29, giving you a growing season of approximately 207 days.

At an elevation of 2,381 feet, Cheatham County receives approximately 41.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 94°F, providing good warmth for Mitsuba during the growing season.

Cheatham County, TN (Zone 7b) Long season
207 days
Last Spring Frost April 5
207 growing days
First Fall Frost October 29
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Cheatham County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.4-6.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (103 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 22 Transplant: Mar 22 🍅 Harvest: May 17 – Jul 12
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (102 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 1 Transplant: Mar 29 🍅 Harvest: May 24 – Jul 19
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (102 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 15 Transplant: Apr 12 🍅 Harvest: Jun 7 – Aug 2

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 Cheatham County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.4–6.5) is more acidic than Mitsuba prefers (6.0–7.0). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.7%). Annual compost additions will help 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

4
successive plantings in your 207-day season

Sow every 5.7 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 20 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 20.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
You supply
0.2″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 363 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 3.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 2.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 4.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 2.7" 1.6" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 3.5" 0.8" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 3.8" 0.5" 💧 Light watering
Jul 4.3" 3.9" 0.4" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.3" 4.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 3.2" 1.1" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 2.4" 1.9" 💧 Light watering
Nov 3.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 3.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Cheatham 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 4,243 GDD Excellent fit

Mitsuba Planting Timeline — Cheatham County, TN

Mitsuba Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 1 Mar 1 – Mar 15
Transplant Outdoors March 29 Mar 29 – Apr 12
Direct Sow March 22 Mar 22 – Apr 12
Harvest May 24 May 24 – Jul 19
Fall Sowing August 20 Aug 20 – Sep 3

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · Only during dry spells

📅 Days to Maturity

50–70 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: too_acidic

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

📆 Growing Season

207 days in Cheatham County

Growing Tips for Mitsuba in Cheatham County

Direct sow Mitsuba outdoors after April 05 in Cheatham 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 Cheatham County, TN?

Cheatham County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of April 5. Plan your Mitsuba planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Cheatham County, TN?

Cheatham County, Tennessee is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 5 and first fall frost is October 29.

🌱

Your Cheatham County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Cheatham County (Zone 7b). 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 Cheatham County, TN. 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.