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When to Plant Tatsoi in Maverick County, TX

Maverick County, Texas Zone 9a May

Top priorities for Maverick County, Texas gardeners in May

A quick May briefing for Maverick County, Texas gardeners — what's urgent, what's next, and what can wait.

Avg. last frost March 5
Avg. first frost November 21
Soil temp (4") 61°F
Watering Critical
Pest pressure High
Daylight 13.4 hrs
  1. It's harvest week for tatsoi

    Check every 1–2 days. Many of these get tough or go to seed if you wait too long.

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Tatsoi is a compact Asian green forming beautiful rosettes of dark, spoon-shaped leaves with a mild mustard flavor. It is extremely cold-hardy and versatile.

Maverick County, Texas is in USDA Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is March 5 and the first fall frost is November 21, giving you a growing season of approximately 261 days.

At an elevation of 4,473 feet, Maverick County receives approximately 48.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 95°F, so Tatsoi may need afternoon shade and extra watering during peak heat. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring — great for early planting — but Tatsoi will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients.

Maverick County, TX (Zone 9a) Long season
261 days
Last Spring Frost March 5
261 growing days
First Fall Frost November 21
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Maverick County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

7.3-8.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (198 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 20 Transplant: Feb 17 🍅 Harvest: Mar 24 – Apr 28
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (191 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 5 Transplant: Mar 5 🍅 Harvest: Apr 9 – May 14
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (190 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 27 Transplant: Mar 27 🍅 Harvest: May 1 – Jun 5

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 Maverick County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (7.3–8.3) is more alkaline than Tatsoi prefers (6.0–7.5). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

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

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Tatsoi.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is low (0.9%). Add 2-3 inches of compost before planting Tatsoi.

How to Plant Tatsoi

0.5"
Planting Depth
6"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Fall planting: Sow 8 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Tatsoi

9
successive plantings in your 261-day season

Sow every 4 weeks. Last sowing by Oct 02 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Sep 26.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
You supply
0.6″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 1,457 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Monthly Watering Guide for Tatsoi

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

Month Tatsoi Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 3.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 2.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 4.3" 2.9" 1.4" 💧 Light watering
Apr 4.3" 1.5" 2.8" 🚿 Regular watering
May 4.3" 1.2" 3.1" 🚿 Regular watering
Jun 4.3" 1.6" 2.7" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 7.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 10.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 4.3" 4.2" 0.1" 💧 Light watering
Nov 4.3" 2.5" 1.8" 💧 Light watering
Dec 3.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Tatsoi 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.

Tatsoi needs ~903 GDD — county provides 5,546 GDD Excellent fit

Tatsoi Planting Timeline — Maverick County, TX

Tatsoi Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 5 Feb 5 – Feb 19
Transplant Outdoors March 5 Mar 5 – Mar 19
Direct Sow February 12 Feb 12 – Mar 5
Harvest April 9 Apr 9 – May 14
Fall Sowing September 26 Sep 26 – Oct 10

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

35–50 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: too_alkaline

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 9a

📆 Growing Season

261 days in Maverick County

Growing Tips for Tatsoi in Maverick County

Direct sow Tatsoi outdoors after March 05 in Maverick County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

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

Your generous 261.0-day season in Maverick County allows multiple plantings of Tatsoi. Sow every 17.0 days for continuous harvest.

Common pests for Tatsoi 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. Tatsoi tolerates frost down to 15F. Harvest outer leaves or cut whole rosettes. Excellent in salads, stir-fries, or lightly wilted.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Strawberries

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Tatsoi in Maverick County, TX?

Maverick County is in Zone 9a with an average last frost of March 5. Plan your Tatsoi planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Maverick County, TX?

Maverick County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is March 5 and first fall frost is November 21.

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Your Maverick County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Maverick County (Zone 9a). 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 Maverick 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.