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When to Plant Tatsoi in Parmer County, TX

Parmer County, Texas Zone 7a May

This month in Parmer County, Texas

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

Avg. last frost April 16
Avg. first frost October 23
Soil temp (4") 66°F
Watering Critical
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 13.8 hrs
  1. Time to start tatsoi inside

    Your window is short. These crops want several weeks of indoor growth before they go outside.

  2. Collect tatsoi at their peak

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

Get ahead of June
  • First harvests: tatsoi

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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.

Parmer County, Texas is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 16 and the first fall frost is October 23, giving you a growing season of approximately 190 days.

At an elevation of 1,686 feet, Parmer County receives approximately 53.4 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. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Tatsoi root diseases.

Parmer County, TX (Zone 7a) Moderate season
190 days
Last Spring Frost April 16
190 growing days
First Fall Frost October 23

Parmer County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

7.3-8.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (115 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 9 Transplant: Apr 13 🍅 Harvest: May 18 – Jun 22
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (120 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 12 Transplant: Apr 16 🍅 Harvest: May 21 – Jun 25
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (118 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 28 Transplant: May 2 🍅 Harvest: Jun 6 – Jul 11

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 Parmer County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (7.3–8.5) is more alkaline than Tatsoi prefers (6.0–7.5). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

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

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 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Tatsoi

6
successive plantings in your 190-day season

Sow every 4 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 03 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 14.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
1.2″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 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 3.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
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" 9.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 10.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 7.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 4.3" 5.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 2.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 3.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Parmer 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 4,037 GDD Excellent fit

Tatsoi Planting Timeline — Parmer County, TX

Tatsoi Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 12 Mar 12 – Mar 26
Transplant Outdoors April 16 Apr 16 – Apr 30
Direct Sow April 2 Apr 2 – Apr 23
Harvest May 21 May 21 – Jun 25
Fall Sowing August 14 Aug 14 – Aug 28

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

35–50 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: too_alkaline

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

📆 Growing Season

190 days in Parmer County

Growing Tips for Tatsoi in Parmer County

Direct sow Tatsoi outdoors after April 16 in Parmer County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in Parmer 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 190.0-day season in Parmer 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 Parmer County, TX?

Parmer County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 16. Plan your Tatsoi planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Parmer County, TX?

Parmer County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 16 and first fall frost is October 23.

🌱

Your Parmer County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Parmer County (Zone 7a). 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 Parmer 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.