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When to Plant Tatsoi in Owyhee County, ID

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.

Owyhee County, Idaho is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is June 9 and the first fall frost is September 20, giving you a growing season of approximately 103 days.

At an elevation of 4,621 feet, Owyhee County receives approximately 18.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 90ยฐF, providing good warmth for Tatsoi during the growing season. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Tatsoi successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Owyhee County, ID (Zone 6a) Short season
103 days
Last Spring Frost June 9
103 growing days
First Fall Frost September 20

Owyhee County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.3-7.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (34 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 27 Transplant: Jun 1 🍅 Harvest: Jul 6 – Aug 10
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (33 days to spare)
Start indoors: May 5 Transplant: Jun 9 🍅 Harvest: Jul 14 – Aug 18
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (50 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 Owyhee County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.3โ€“7.8) overlaps with Tatsoi's range (6.0โ€“7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.7%). 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

3
successive plantings in your 103-day season

Sow every 4 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 01 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 12.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/week
You supply
0.3″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 288 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 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€” 1.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 1.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 1.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr โ€” 2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
May โ€” 2.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Jun 4.3" 1.4" 2.9" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 1.8" 2.5" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Aug 4.3" 1.7" 2.6" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Sep 4.3" 1.3" 3" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Oct โ€” 1.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Nov โ€” 1.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Junโ€“Sep in Owyhee 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 ~744 GDD — county provides 1,802 GDD Excellent fit

Tatsoi Planting Timeline โ€” Owyhee County, ID

Tatsoi Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors May 5 May 5 โ€“ May 19
Transplant Outdoors June 9 Jun 9 โ€“ Jun 23
Direct Sow May 26 May 26 โ€“ Jun 16
Harvest July 14 Jul 14 โ€“ Aug 18
Fall Sowing July 12 Jul 12 โ€“ Jul 26

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March โ€”
April โ€”
May Start Indoors Direct Sow
June Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
July Fall Sowing Harvest
August 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 1-2 times/week

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

35โ€“50 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7.5 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

103 days in Owyhee County

Growing Tips for Tatsoi in Owyhee County

Direct sow Tatsoi outdoors after June 09 in Owyhee 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.

Owyhee County receives only 18" of rain annually. Tatsoi needs consistent moisture โ€” install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

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 Owyhee County, ID?

Owyhee County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of June 9. Plan your Tatsoi planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Owyhee County, ID?

Owyhee County, Idaho is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is June 9 and first fall frost is September 20.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Owyhee County gardeners in Zone 6a organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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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 Owyhee County, ID. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.