Blog

When to Plant Tatsoi in El Dorado County, CA

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.

El Dorado County, California is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 11 and the first fall frost is November 22, giving you a growing season of approximately 225 days.

At an elevation of 2,714 feet, El Dorado County receives approximately 41 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 83ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Tatsoi to ensure they mature before fall.

El Dorado County, CA (Zone 7a) Long season
225 days
Last Spring Frost April 11
225 growing days
First Fall Frost November 22

El Dorado County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.3-7.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (155 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 22 Transplant: Mar 29 🍅 Harvest: May 3 – Jun 7
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (155 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 7 Transplant: Apr 11 🍅 Harvest: May 16 – Jun 20
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (155 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 2 Transplant: May 7 🍅 Harvest: Jun 11 – Jul 16

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.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
You supply
0.3″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 564 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Tatsoi needs ~521 GDD — county provides 2,756 GDD Excellent fit

Tatsoi Planting Timeline โ€” El Dorado County, CA

Tatsoi Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 7 Mar 7 โ€“ Mar 21
Transplant Outdoors April 11 Apr 11 โ€“ Apr 25
Direct Sow March 28 Mar 28 โ€“ Apr 18
Fall Sowing September 13 Sep 13 โ€“ Sep 27
Harvest May 16 May 16 โ€“ Jun 20

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

Days to Maturity

35โ€“50 days

Soil pH

6 โ€“ 7.5

USDA Zone

Zone 7a

Growing Season

225 days

Growing Tips for El Dorado County

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

Level Up Your Garden

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Tatsoi in El Dorado County, CA?

El Dorado County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 11. Plan your Tatsoi planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is El Dorado County, CA?

El Dorado County, California is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 11 and first fall frost is November 22.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help El Dorado County gardeners in Zone 7a organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

Free download. Plan your entire garden season in minutes.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for El Dorado County, CA. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.