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When to Plant Pac Choi in Chippewa County, WI

Chippewa County, Wisconsin Zone 4b May

Your May game plan for Chippewa County, Wisconsin

May rewards gardeners who work with the weather, not against it. Here's how to stay in step this month in Chippewa County, Wisconsin.

Avg. last frost May 15
Avg. first frost September 28
Soil temp (4") 53°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.7 hrs
  1. Harden off and plant pac choi

    Plant tomatoes deep — bury the stem up to the first true leaves to grow extra roots. Everything else goes in at the same depth it grew in the tray.

  2. Outdoor sowing time: pac choi

    These tolerate cool soil, so you're not gambling by sowing now.

Looking ahead to June
  • Starting indoors: pac choi
  • 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.

Chippewa County, Wisconsin is in USDA Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is May 15 and the first fall frost is September 28, giving you a growing season of approximately 136 days.

At an elevation of 916 feet, Chippewa County receives approximately 40.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 83°F, so choose short-season varieties of Pac Choi to ensure they mature before fall.

Chippewa County, WI (Zone 4b) Short season
136 days
Last Spring Frost May 15
136 growing days
First Fall Frost September 28

Chippewa County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.8-6.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (64 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 30 Transplant: May 11 🍅 Harvest: Jun 22 – Jul 20
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (66 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 3 Transplant: May 15 🍅 Harvest: Jun 26 – Jul 24
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (70 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 14 Transplant: May 26 🍅 Harvest: Jul 7 – Aug 4

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 Chippewa County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.8–6.7) overlaps with Pac Choi's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Chippewa County is excellent for Pac Choi — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Drainage

Pac Choi is a heavy drinker but your soil drains very quickly. Mulch heavily and consider drip irrigation.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.4%) — Pac Choi will thrive.

How to Plant Pac Choi

1"
Planting Depth
15"
Between Plants
24"
Between Rows

Fall planting: Sow 12 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Pac Choi

4
successive plantings in your 136-day season

Sow every 4.6 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 04 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 06.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.5″/week
Rainfall provides
1.3″/week
You supply
0.7″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 850 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 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 3.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 6.5" 4.3" 2.2" 💧 Light watering
Jun 6.5" 5.3" 1.2" 💧 Light watering
Jul 6.5" 4.2" 2.3" 💧 Light watering
Aug 6.5" 4.2" 2.3" 💧 Light watering
Sep 6.5" 4.3" 2.2" 💧 Light watering
Oct 3.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 2.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 2.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Chippewa 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 ~582 GDD — county provides 1,666 GDD Excellent fit

Pac Choi Planting Timeline — Chippewa County, WI

Pac Choi Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 3 Apr 3 – Apr 17
Transplant Outdoors May 15 May 15 – May 29
Direct Sow May 8 May 8 – May 29
Harvest June 26 Jun 26 – Jul 24
Fall Sowing July 6 Jul 6 – Jul 20

Plant 1" deep · 15" apart · Rows 24" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

1.5"/week · 2-3 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

40–55 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 4b

📆 Growing Season

136 days in Chippewa County

Growing Tips for Pac Choi in Chippewa County

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

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 Chippewa County, WI?

Chippewa County is in Zone 4b with an average last frost of May 15. Plan your Pac Choi planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Chippewa County, WI?

Chippewa County, Wisconsin is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is May 15 and first fall frost is September 28.

🌱

Your Chippewa County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Chippewa County (Zone 4b). 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 Chippewa County, WI. 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.