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When to Plant Mizuna in Borden County, TX

Borden County, Texas Zone 8a May

This month in Borden County, Texas

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

Avg. last frost March 29
Avg. first frost November 11
Soil temp (4") 59°F
Watering Critical
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 13.7 hrs
  1. Indoor seed-starting week for mizuna

    You're about 24 weeks out from your last frost — the perfect window to get these germinating indoors.

  2. Harvest mizuna as they ripen

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

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Mizuna is a mild-flavored Japanese mustard green with feathery, deeply serrated leaves. It is fast-growing and makes an excellent addition to salads and stir-fries.

Borden County, Texas is in USDA Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 29 and the first fall frost is November 11, giving you a growing season of approximately 227 days.

At an elevation of 4,231 feet, Borden County receives approximately 47.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 101°F, so Mizuna may need afternoon shade and extra watering during peak heat. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring — great for early planting — but Mizuna will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients.

Borden County, TX (Zone 8a) Long season
227 days
Last Spring Frost March 29
227 growing days
First Fall Frost November 11
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Borden County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

7.5-8.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (162 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 15 Transplant: Mar 22 🍅 Harvest: Apr 26 – May 24
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (164 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 22 Transplant: Mar 29 🍅 Harvest: May 3 – May 31
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (160 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 11 Transplant: Apr 15 🍅 Harvest: May 20 – Jun 17

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 Borden County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (7.5–8.7) is more alkaline than Mizuna prefers (6.0–7.5). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

Sandy soil in Borden County warms quickly in spring but drains fast. Mizuna will need more frequent watering and regular compost additions to retain nutrients.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is low (1.0%). Add 2-3 inches of compost before planting Mizuna.

How to Plant Mizuna

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 Mizuna

9
successive plantings in your 227-day season

Sow every 3.4 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 27 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Sep 02.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/week
You supply
0.2″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 303 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Mizuna

Mizuna needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Mizuna Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 3.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 2.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 4.3" 2.6" 1.7" 💧 Light watering
Apr 4.3" 1.8" 2.5" 🚿 Regular watering
May 4.3" 1.2" 3.1" 🚿 Regular watering
Jun 4.3" 1.8" 2.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 7.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 9.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 7.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 4.3" 4.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 4.3" 2.7" 1.6" 💧 Light watering
Dec 3.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Mizuna 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.

Mizuna needs ~966 GDD — county provides 5,845 GDD Excellent fit

Mizuna Planting Timeline — Borden County, TX

Mizuna Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 22 Feb 22 – Mar 8
Transplant Outdoors March 29 Mar 29 – Apr 12
Direct Sow March 15 Mar 15 – Apr 5
Harvest May 3 May 3 – May 31
Fall Sowing September 2 Sep 2 – Sep 16

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February Start Indoors
March Start Indoors Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
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"/week · Only during dry spells

📅 Days to Maturity

30–45 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: too_alkaline

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 8a

📆 Growing Season

227 days in Borden County

Growing Tips for Mizuna in Borden County

Direct sow Mizuna outdoors after March 29 in Borden County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in Borden County dries quickly — mulch Mizuna with 2-3 inches of straw and water deeply 2-3 times per week rather than lightly every day.

With summer highs reaching 101°F in Borden County, provide afternoon shade for Mizuna and water deeply in the morning.

Your generous 227.0-day season in Borden County allows multiple plantings of Mizuna. Sow every 15.0 days for continuous harvest.

Common pests for Mizuna 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. Harvest outer leaves as needed for a cut-and-come-again approach. Mizuna is one of the most cold-tolerant Asian greens.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Strawberries

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Mizuna in Borden County, TX?

Borden County is in Zone 8a with an average last frost of March 29. Plan your Mizuna planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Borden County, TX?

Borden County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 29 and first fall frost is November 11.

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Your Borden County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Borden 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 Borden 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.