Blog

When to Plant Mitsuba in Marion County, TN

Marion County, Tennessee Zone 7b May

Marion County, Tennessee gardeners: here's your May plan

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

Avg. last frost April 5
Avg. first frost October 29
Soil temp (4") 65°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 13.8 hrs
  1. Fire up the seed-starting tray: mitsuba

    Label every cell. You will absolutely forget which is which otherwise.

  2. It's harvest week for mitsuba

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

To set up a strong June, finish these tasks
  • First harvests: mitsuba

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

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.

Marion 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 1,867 feet, Marion County receives approximately 41.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 92°F, providing good warmth for Mitsuba during the growing season.

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

Marion County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.5-6.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (103 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 21 Transplant: Mar 21 🍅 Harvest: May 16 – Jul 11
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 (100 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 Marion County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.5–6.5) overlaps with Mitsuba's range (6.0–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.9%). 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 299 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 3.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 3.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 3.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 3" 1.3" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 3.5" 0.8" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 3.9" 0.4" 💧 Light watering
Jul 4.3" 4.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 3.7" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2.9" 1.4" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 2.8" 1.5" 💧 Light watering
Nov 3.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 3" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Marion 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 ~1,140 GDD — county provides 3,933 GDD Excellent fit

Mitsuba Planting Timeline — Marion 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

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: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

📆 Growing Season

207 days in Marion County

Growing Tips for Mitsuba in Marion County

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

Marion 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 Marion County, TN?

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

🌱

Your Marion County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Marion 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.

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Marion 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.