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When to Plant Mitsuba in Taylor County, WI

Taylor County, Wisconsin Zone 4a May

This month in Taylor County, Wisconsin

We've pulled the most time-sensitive tasks for Taylor County, Wisconsin this May and put them front and centre. Tackle them in order.

Avg. last frost May 16
Avg. first frost September 29
Soil temp (4") 54°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.7 hrs
  1. Move mitsuba from tray to bed

    Harden off for 7 days — a little more sun each day — before planting. That's the difference between a seedling that thrives and one that stalls.

  2. Put mitsuba seeds straight in the ground

    Your soil is 54°F — warm enough for these to germinate without babying.

June will be here before you know it — start on
  • Starting indoors: mitsuba

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Mitsuba (Japanese parsley) is a shade-loving herb with trefoil leaves and a mild celery-parsley flavor. It is essential in Japanese cuisine for soups, salads, and garnishes.

Taylor County, Wisconsin is in USDA Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 16 and the first fall frost is September 29, giving you a growing season of approximately 136 days.

At an elevation of 632 feet, Taylor County receives approximately 33.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 80°F, so choose short-season varieties of Mitsuba to ensure they mature before fall.

Taylor County, WI (Zone 4a) Short season
136 days
Last Spring Frost May 16
136 growing days
First Fall Frost September 29
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Taylor County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.9-6.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (29 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 30 Transplant: May 4 🍅 Harvest: Jun 29 – Aug 24
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (31 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 4 Transplant: May 9 🍅 Harvest: Jul 4 – Aug 29
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (35 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 14 Transplant: May 19 🍅 Harvest: Jul 14 – Sep 8

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 Taylor County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.9–6.7) overlaps with Mitsuba's range (6.0–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.2%) — Mitsuba will thrive.

How to Plant Mitsuba

0.5"
Planting Depth
8"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

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

Succession Planting Mitsuba

3
successive plantings in your 136-day season

Sow every 5.7 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 21 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 07.

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 Mitsuba

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

Month Mitsuba Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 4.3" 3.7" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 3.8" 0.5" 💧 Light watering
Jul 4.3" 4" 0.3" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.3" 3.4" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2.6" 1.7" 💧 Light watering
Oct 3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 2.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Mitsuba 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.

Mitsuba needs ~600 GDD — county provides 1,360 GDD Excellent fit

Mitsuba Planting Timeline — Taylor County, WI

Mitsuba Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 4 Apr 4 – Apr 18
Transplant Outdoors May 9 May 9 – May 23
Direct Sow May 9 May 9 – May 30
Harvest July 4 Jul 4 – Aug 29
Fall Sowing July 7 Jul 7 – Jul 21

Plant 0.5" deep · 8" apart · Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

50–70 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 4a

📆 Growing Season

136 days in Taylor County

Growing Tips for Mitsuba in Taylor County

Direct sow Mitsuba outdoors after May 16 in Taylor County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Mitsuba in this region include carrot rust fly and parsleyworm. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Direct sow or start indoors in partial shade. Mitsuba prefers cool, moist conditions. Harvest outer stems as needed. Self-sows readily in shaded garden areas.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Mitsuba in Taylor County, WI?

Taylor County is in Zone 4a with an average last frost of May 16. Plan your Mitsuba planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Taylor County, WI?

Taylor County, Wisconsin is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 16 and first fall frost is September 29.

🌱

Your Taylor County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Taylor County (Zone 4a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Taylor 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.