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When to Plant Pac Choi in Baylor County, TX

Baylor County, Texas Zone 8a May

This month in Baylor County, Texas

If you only do a handful of things in the garden this May, make it these. They're sequenced around your zone's frost timing.

Avg. last frost March 21
Avg. first frost November 15
Soil temp (4") 64°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 13.7 hrs
  1. Harvest pac choi as they ripen

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

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Pac choi (baby bok choy) is a compact variety of Chinese cabbage with tender leaves and crisp stems. It grows quickly and is ideal for containers and small spaces.

Baylor County, Texas is in USDA Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 21 and the first fall frost is November 15, giving you a growing season of approximately 239 days.

At an elevation of 2,365 feet, Baylor County receives approximately 56.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 92°F, providing good warmth for Pac Choi during the growing season. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Pac Choi root diseases.

Baylor County, TX (Zone 8a) Long season
239 days
Last Spring Frost March 21
239 growing days
First Fall Frost November 15
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Baylor County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.6-7.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (165 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 7 Transplant: Mar 14 🍅 Harvest: Apr 25 – May 23
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (169 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 14 Transplant: Mar 21 🍅 Harvest: May 2 – May 30
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (157 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 9 Transplant: Apr 13 🍅 Harvest: May 25 – Jun 22

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 Baylor County

How your county's soil matches Pac Choi's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.6–7.2) is within Pac Choi's preferred range (6.0–7.5).

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Baylor County is excellent for Pac Choi — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.2%). Annual compost additions will help Pac Choi.

How to Plant Pac Choi

1"
Planting Depth
15"
Between Plants
24"
Between Rows

Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Pac Choi

7
successive plantings in your 239-day season

Sow every 4.6 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 21 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Sep 06.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.5″/week
Rainfall provides
1.0″/week
You supply
0.6″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 1,312 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Pac Choi

Pac Choi needs approximately 1.5 inches of water per week (6.5" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Pac Choi Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 6.5" 3.3" 3.2" 💧 Light watering
Apr 6.5" 6.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 6.5" 8.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 6.5" 7.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 6.5" 6.4" 0.1" 💧 Light watering
Aug 6.5" 7.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 6.5" 5.8" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
Oct 6.5" 3.6" 2.9" 💧 Light watering
Nov 6.5" 2.1" 4.4" 🚿 Regular watering
Dec 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Mar–Nov in Baylor County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Pac Choi 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.

Pac Choi needs ~902 GDD — county provides 4,541 GDD Excellent fit

Pac Choi Planting Timeline — Baylor County, TX

Pac Choi Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 14 Feb 14 – Feb 28
Transplant Outdoors March 21 Mar 21 – Apr 4
Direct Sow March 7 Mar 7 – Mar 28
Harvest May 2 May 2 – May 30
Fall Sowing September 6 Sep 6 – Sep 20

Plant 1" deep · 15" apart · Rows 24" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

1.5"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

40–55 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: ideal

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 8a

📆 Growing Season

239 days in Baylor County

Growing Tips for Pac Choi in Baylor County

Direct sow Pac Choi outdoors after March 21 in Baylor County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 239.0-day season in Baylor County allows multiple plantings of Pac Choi. Sow every 20.0 days for continuous harvest.

Common pests for Pac Choi 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. Grows best in cool weather. Space 6 inches apart for baby pac choi. Harvest whole plants or cut outer leaves as needed.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Strawberries

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Pac Choi in Baylor County, TX?

Baylor County is in Zone 8a with an average last frost of March 21. Plan your Pac Choi planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Baylor County, TX?

Baylor County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 21 and first fall frost is November 15.

🌱

Your Baylor County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Baylor 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 Baylor County, TX. 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.