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When to Plant Tatsoi in Juneau County, WI

Juneau County, Wisconsin Zone 4b May

May to-do list for Juneau County, Wisconsin

May is a pivotal month for Juneau County, Wisconsin gardens. Focus on these tasks first and you'll set up the rest of the season for success.

Avg. last frost May 5
Avg. first frost October 5
Soil temp (4") 52°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.6 hrs
  1. Move tatsoi into the garden

    Water the tray well an hour before you transplant. Roots slide out cleanly and settle in faster.

To set up a strong June, finish these tasks
  • Starting indoors: tatsoi
  • 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.

Juneau County, Wisconsin is in USDA Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is May 5 and the first fall frost is October 5, giving you a growing season of approximately 153 days.

At an elevation of 1,397 feet, Juneau County receives approximately 38 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 84°F, so choose short-season varieties of Tatsoi to ensure they mature before fall.

Juneau County, WI (Zone 4b) Moderate season
153 days
Last Spring Frost May 5
153 growing days
First Fall Frost October 5
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Juneau County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.7-7.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (83 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 18 Transplant: Apr 29 🍅 Harvest: Jun 3 – Jul 8
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (83 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 24 Transplant: May 5 🍅 Harvest: Jun 9 – Jul 14
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (78 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 9 Transplant: May 21 🍅 Harvest: Jun 25 – Jul 30

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 Juneau County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.7–7.3) overlaps with Tatsoi's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.3%) — Tatsoi will thrive.

How to Plant Tatsoi

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

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

Succession Planting Tatsoi

5
successive plantings in your 153-day season

Sow every 4 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 16 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 13.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
1.0″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 — 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 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 3.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 4.3" 4.2" 0.1" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 4.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 4.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 3.9" 0.4" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 3.6" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 2.7" 1.6" 💧 Light watering
Nov 2.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Oct in Juneau 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 ~552 GDD — county provides 1,989 GDD Excellent fit

Tatsoi Planting Timeline — Juneau County, WI

Tatsoi Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 24 Mar 24 – Apr 7
Transplant Outdoors May 5 May 5 – May 19
Direct Sow April 28 Apr 28 – May 19
Harvest June 9 Jun 9 – Jul 14
Fall Sowing July 13 Jul 13 – Jul 27

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 4b

📆 Growing Season

153 days in Juneau County

Growing Tips for Tatsoi in Juneau County

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

Your generous 153.0-day season in Juneau 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 Juneau County, WI?

Juneau County is in Zone 4b with an average last frost of May 5. Plan your Tatsoi planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Juneau County, WI?

Juneau County, Wisconsin is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is May 5 and first fall frost is October 5.

🌱

Your Juneau County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Juneau 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 Juneau 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.