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When to Plant Mizuna in Kent County, TX

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.

Kent County, Texas is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 31 and the first fall frost is November 7, giving you a growing season of approximately 221 days.

At an elevation of 1,287 feet, Kent County receives approximately 51.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 98ยฐF, so Mizuna may need afternoon shade and extra watering during peak heat. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring โ€” great for early planting โ€” but Mizuna will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Mizuna root diseases.

Kent County, TX (Zone 7b) Long season
221 days
Last Spring Frost March 31
221 growing days
First Fall Frost November 7

Kent County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

7.8-8.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (156 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 17 Transplant: Mar 24 🍅 Harvest: Apr 28 – May 26
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (158 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 24 Transplant: Mar 31 🍅 Harvest: May 5 – Jun 2
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (159 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 Kent County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (7.8โ€“8.6) is more alkaline than Mizuna prefers (6.0โ€“7.5). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

Sandy soil in Kent 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 (1.1%). 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

8
successive plantings in your 221-day season

Sow every 3.4 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 23 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 29.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
1.0″/week
You supply
0.0″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 68 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 โ€” 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 โ€” 3.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 2.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar 4.3" 3.1" 1.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Apr 4.3" 1.7" 2.6" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
May 4.3" 1.1" 3.2" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jun 4.3" 1.7" 2.6" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 9.8" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 9.5" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 6.1" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 4.3" 5.1" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Nov 4.3" 2.9" 1.4" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Dec โ€” 3.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Marโ€“Nov in Kent County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” 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" โ€” every day above 50ยฐF 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 ~881 GDD — county provides 5,193 GDD Excellent fit

Mizuna Planting Timeline โ€” Kent County, TX

Mizuna Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 24 Feb 24 โ€“ Mar 10
Transplant Outdoors March 31 Mar 31 โ€“ Apr 14
Direct Sow March 17 Mar 17 โ€“ Apr 7
Harvest May 5 May 5 โ€“ Jun 2
Fall Sowing August 29 Aug 29 โ€“ Sep 12

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

1"/week ยท Only during dry spells

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

30โ€“45 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7.5 ยท Your soil: too_alkaline

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

221 days in Kent County

Growing Tips for Mizuna in Kent County

Direct sow Mizuna outdoors after March 31 in Kent County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in Kent County dries quickly โ€” 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 98ยฐF in Kent County, provide afternoon shade for Mizuna and water deeply in the morning.

Your generous 221.0-day season in Kent 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 Kent County, TX?

Kent County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of March 31. Plan your Mizuna planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Kent County, TX?

Kent County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 31 and first fall frost is November 7.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Kent County gardeners in Zone 7b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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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 Kent County, TX. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.