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When to Plant Tatsoi in Haywood County, TN

Haywood County, Tennessee Zone 8a May

This month in Haywood County, Tennessee

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

Avg. last frost April 1
Avg. first frost October 29
Soil temp (4") 58°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 13.9 hrs
  1. Fire up the seed-starting tray: tatsoi

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

  2. Bring in the tatsoi

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

June will be here before you know it — start on
  • First harvests: tatsoi

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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.

Haywood County, Tennessee is in USDA Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is April 1 and the first fall frost is October 29, giving you a growing season of approximately 211 days.

At an elevation of 3,782 feet, Haywood County receives approximately 51.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 93°F, providing good warmth for Tatsoi during the growing season. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Tatsoi root diseases.

Haywood County, TN (Zone 8a) Long season
211 days
Last Spring Frost April 1
211 growing days
First Fall Frost October 29

Haywood County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.4-7.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (142 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 19 Transplant: Mar 26 🍅 Harvest: Apr 30 – Jun 4
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (141 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 25 Transplant: Apr 1 🍅 Harvest: May 6 – Jun 10
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (146 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 13 Transplant: Apr 17 🍅 Harvest: May 22 – Jun 26

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 Haywood County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.4–7.1) overlaps with Tatsoi's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.0%). Annual compost additions will help Tatsoi.

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

7
successive plantings in your 211-day season

Sow every 4 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 09 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 20.

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 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 4.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 4.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 5.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 4" 0.3" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 3.8" 0.5" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 3.9" 0.4" 💧 Light watering
Jul 4.3" 4.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 4.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 4.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 4.3" 3.3" 1" 💧 Light watering
Nov 4.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 4.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Haywood 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 ~839 GDD — county provides 4,167 GDD Excellent fit

Tatsoi Planting Timeline — Haywood County, TN

Tatsoi Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 25 Feb 25 – Mar 11
Transplant Outdoors April 1 Apr 1 – Apr 15
Direct Sow March 18 Mar 18 – Apr 8
Harvest May 6 May 6 – Jun 10
Fall Sowing August 20 Aug 20 – Sep 3

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

35–50 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 8a

📆 Growing Season

211 days in Haywood County

Growing Tips for Tatsoi in Haywood County

Direct sow Tatsoi outdoors after April 01 in Haywood County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 211.0-day season in Haywood County allows multiple plantings of Tatsoi. Sow every 17.0 days for continuous harvest.

Common pests for Tatsoi 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. 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 Haywood County, TN?

Haywood County is in Zone 8a with an average last frost of April 1. Plan your Tatsoi planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Haywood County, TN?

Haywood County, Tennessee is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is April 1 and first fall frost is October 29.

🌱

Your Haywood County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Haywood 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 Haywood 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.