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When to Plant Tatsoi in Hamilton County, IL

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.

Hamilton County, Illinois is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 9 and the first fall frost is October 23, giving you a growing season of approximately 197 days.

At an elevation of 524 feet, Hamilton County receives approximately 39 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 90ยฐF, providing good warmth for Tatsoi during the growing season.

Hamilton County, IL (Zone 6a) Moderate season
197 days
Last Spring Frost April 9
197 growing days
First Fall Frost October 23

Hamilton County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.8-6.7

Drainage

Well Drained

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€” 1.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 1.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 2.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 3.8" 0.5" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 4.3" 4.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.3" 5.1" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 4.2" 0.1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Aug 4.3" 3.7" 0.6" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Sep 4.3" 3.1" 1.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct 4.3" 3.2" 1.1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov โ€” 2.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 2.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Aprโ€“Oct in Hamilton County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Tatsoi Planting Timeline โ€” Hamilton County, IL

Tatsoi Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 5 Mar 5 โ€“ Mar 19
Transplant Outdoors April 9 Apr 9 โ€“ Apr 23
Direct Sow March 26 Mar 26 โ€“ Apr 16
Harvest May 14 May 14 โ€“ Jun 18
Fall Sowing August 14 Aug 14 โ€“ Aug 28

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 Fall Sowing
September โ€”
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

35โ€“50 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7.5 ยท Your soil: N/A

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

197 days in Hamilton County

Growing Tips for Hamilton 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

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Tatsoi in Hamilton County, IL?

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

What planting zone is Hamilton County, IL?

Hamilton County, Illinois is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 9 and first fall frost is October 23.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Hamilton 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 Hamilton County, IL. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.