Blog

When to Plant Tatsoi in Lassen 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.

Lassen County, California is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is May 28 and the first fall frost is September 29, giving you a growing season of approximately 124 days.

At an elevation of 1,854 feet, Lassen County receives approximately 43.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 84ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Tatsoi to ensure they mature before fall.

Lassen County, CA (Zone 6b) Short season
124 days
Last Spring Frost May 28
124 growing days
First Fall Frost September 29

Lassen County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.1-7.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (52 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 13 Transplant: May 18 🍅 Harvest: Jun 22 – Jul 27
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (54 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 23 Transplant: May 28 🍅 Harvest: Jul 2 – Aug 6
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (58 days to spare)
Start indoors: May 15 Transplant: Jun 19 🍅 Harvest: Jul 24 – Aug 28

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 Lassen County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.1โ€“7.5) is within Tatsoi's preferred range (6.0โ€“7.5).

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Lassen County is excellent for Tatsoi โ€” good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.3%). Annual compost additions will help 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

4
successive plantings in your 124-day season

Sow every 4 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 10 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 21.

Plant Water Budget

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

Water stress score is 6/10 โ€” 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 โ€” 9.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 9.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 7.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr โ€” 3.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
May 4.3" 1" 3.3" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jun 4.3" 0.2" 4.1" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 0" 4.3" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Aug 4.3" 0" 4.3" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Sep 4.3" 0.5" 3.8" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Oct โ€” 1.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Nov โ€” 3.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 6.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Mayโ€“Sep in Lassen County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” 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" โ€” every day above 50ยฐF 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 1,612 GDD Excellent fit

Tatsoi Planting Timeline โ€” Lassen County, CA

Tatsoi Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 23 Apr 23 โ€“ May 7
Transplant Outdoors May 28 May 28 โ€“ Jun 11
Direct Sow May 14 May 14 โ€“ Jun 4
Harvest July 2 Jul 2 โ€“ Aug 6
Fall Sowing July 21 Jul 21 โ€“ Aug 4

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

1"/week ยท Natural rainfall sufficient

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

35โ€“50 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7.5 ยท Your soil: ideal

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

124 days in Lassen County

Growing Tips for Tatsoi in Lassen County

Direct sow Tatsoi outdoors after May 28 in Lassen County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

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 Lassen County, CA?

Lassen County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of May 28. Plan your Tatsoi planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Lassen County, CA?

Lassen County, California is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is May 28 and first fall frost is September 29.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Lassen County gardeners in Zone 6b 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 Lassen County, CA. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.