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When to Plant Tatsoi in Sequatchie County, TN

Sequatchie County, Tennessee Zone 7b May

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

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

Avg. last frost April 6
Avg. first frost October 29
Soil temp (4") 59°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 13.9 hrs
  1. Indoor seed-starting week for tatsoi

    Bottom-water once the first true leaves appear — it keeps stems dry and knocks back damping-off.

  2. Harvest tatsoi as they ripen

    Taste as you pick. The first ripe produce is the best feedback loop you'll get all season.

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.

Sequatchie County, Tennessee is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 6 and the first fall frost is October 29, giving you a growing season of approximately 206 days.

At an elevation of 3,890 feet, Sequatchie County receives approximately 52.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 89°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.

Sequatchie County, TN (Zone 7b) Long season
206 days
Last Spring Frost April 6
206 growing days
First Fall Frost October 29
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Sequatchie County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.7-6.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (138 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 22 Transplant: Mar 29 🍅 Harvest: May 3 – Jun 7
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (136 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 2 Transplant: Apr 6 🍅 Harvest: May 11 – Jun 15
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (137 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 15 Transplant: Apr 19 🍅 Harvest: May 24 – Jun 28

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 Sequatchie County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.7–6.6) overlaps with Tatsoi's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.8%). 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 206-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
1.1″/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 5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 4.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 4.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 4.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 4.3" 4.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.3" 4.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 5.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 4.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 3.6" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 3.1" 1.2" 💧 Light watering
Nov 4.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 4" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Sequatchie 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 ~712 GDD — county provides 3,450 GDD Excellent fit

Tatsoi Planting Timeline — Sequatchie County, TN

Tatsoi Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 2 Mar 2 – Mar 16
Transplant Outdoors April 6 Apr 6 – Apr 20
Direct Sow March 23 Mar 23 – Apr 13
Harvest May 11 May 11 – Jun 15
Fall Sowing August 20 Aug 20 – Sep 3

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

35–50 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

📆 Growing Season

206 days in Sequatchie County

Growing Tips for Tatsoi in Sequatchie County

Direct sow Tatsoi outdoors after April 06 in Sequatchie County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 206.0-day season in Sequatchie 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 Sequatchie County, TN?

Sequatchie County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of April 6. Plan your Tatsoi planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Sequatchie County, TN?

Sequatchie County, Tennessee is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 6 and first fall frost is October 29.

🌱

Your Sequatchie County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Sequatchie 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 Sequatchie 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.