Blog

When to Plant Mitsuba in Wayne County, TN

Wayne County, Tennessee Zone 7b May

Top priorities for Wayne County, Tennessee gardeners in May

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

Avg. last frost April 9
Avg. first frost October 26
Soil temp (4") 68°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 13.9 hrs
  1. Time to start mitsuba inside

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

  2. Start harvesting mitsuba

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

June will be here before you know it — start on
  • 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.

Wayne County, Tennessee is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 9 and the first fall frost is October 26, giving you a growing season of approximately 200 days.

At an elevation of 1,680 feet, Wayne County receives approximately 52.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 92°F, providing good warmth for Mitsuba during the growing season. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Mitsuba root diseases.

Wayne County, TN (Zone 7b) Long season
200 days
Last Spring Frost April 9
200 growing days
First Fall Frost October 26

Wayne County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.4-6.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (97 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 24 Transplant: Mar 24 🍅 Harvest: May 19 – Jul 14
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (95 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 5 Transplant: Apr 2 🍅 Harvest: May 28 – Jul 23
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (100 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 17 Transplant: Apr 14 🍅 Harvest: Jun 9 – Aug 4

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 Wayne County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.4–6.6) overlaps with Mitsuba's range (6.0–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Mitsuba.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.0%). 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 200-day season

Sow every 5.7 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 17 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 17.

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 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 4.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 5.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 4.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 4.3" 4.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.3" 4.1" 0.2" 💧 Light watering
Jul 4.3" 5.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 4.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 3.6" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 3" 1.3" 💧 Light watering
Nov 4.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 3.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Wayne 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 3,800 GDD Excellent fit

Mitsuba Planting Timeline — Wayne County, TN

Mitsuba Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 5 Mar 5 – Mar 19
Transplant Outdoors April 2 Apr 2 – Apr 16
Direct Sow March 26 Mar 26 – Apr 16
Harvest May 28 May 28 – Jul 23
Fall Sowing August 17 Aug 17 – Aug 31

Plant 0.5" deep · 8" 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 Harvest
August Fall Sowing
September
October
November
December

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: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

📆 Growing Season

200 days in Wayne County

Growing Tips for Mitsuba in Wayne County

Direct sow Mitsuba outdoors after April 09 in Wayne 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 Wayne County, TN?

Wayne County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of April 9. Plan your Mitsuba planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Wayne County, TN?

Wayne County, Tennessee is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 9 and first fall frost is October 26.

🌱

Your Wayne County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Wayne 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 Wayne 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.