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When to Plant Pac Choi in Hopkins County, TX

Hopkins County, Texas Zone 8a April

Your April game plan for Hopkins County, Texas

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

Avg. last frost March 15
Avg. first frost November 15
Soil temp (4") 63°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure High
Daylight 12.8 hrs
  1. Begin indoor sowing: pac choi

    Give them 6–8 weeks indoors before the last frost and you'll transplant into warm soil with seedlings that are already leaping.

  2. Collect pac choi at their peak

    The more you pick, the more the plant produces. Letting fruit overripen tells the plant it's time to stop.

A few tasks this April that'll pay off in May
  • First harvests: pac choi

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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.

Hopkins County, Texas is in USDA Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 15 and the first fall frost is November 15, giving you a growing season of approximately 245 days.

At an elevation of 217 feet, Hopkins County receives approximately 65.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 90°F, providing good warmth for Pac Choi during the growing season. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring — great for early planting — but Pac Choi will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Pac Choi root diseases.

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

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

5.3-6.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (171 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 31 Transplant: Mar 7 🍅 Harvest: Apr 18 – May 16
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (175 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 8 Transplant: Mar 15 🍅 Harvest: Apr 26 – May 24
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (165 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 5 Transplant: Apr 9 🍅 Harvest: May 21 – Jun 18

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 Hopkins County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.3–6.7) overlaps with Pac Choi's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is low (1.9%). Add 2-3 inches of compost before planting 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 245-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
1.1″/week
You supply
0.4″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 822 gal / 100 sq ft

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 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 6.5" 3.6" 2.9" 💧 Light watering
Apr 6.5" 7.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 6.5" 10" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 6.5" 10.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 6.5" 8.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 6.5" 7.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 6.5" 6.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 6.5" 3.8" 2.7" 💧 Light watering
Nov 6.5" 2" 4.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Dec 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Mar–Nov in Hopkins 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 ~831 GDD — county provides 4,287 GDD Excellent fit

Pac Choi Planting Timeline — Hopkins County, TX

Pac Choi Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 8 Feb 8 – Feb 22
Transplant Outdoors March 15 Mar 15 – Mar 29
Direct Sow March 1 Mar 1 – Mar 22
Harvest April 26 Apr 26 – May 24
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 Harvest
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: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 8a

📆 Growing Season

245 days in Hopkins County

Growing Tips for Pac Choi in Hopkins County

Direct sow Pac Choi outdoors after March 15 in Hopkins County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

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

Your generous 245.0-day season in Hopkins 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 Hopkins County, TX?

Hopkins County is in Zone 8a with an average last frost of March 15. Plan your Pac Choi planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Hopkins County, TX?

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

🌱

Your Hopkins County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Hopkins 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 Hopkins County, TX. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.