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When to Plant Tatsoi in Jackson County, IN

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.

Jackson County, Indiana is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 12 and the first fall frost is October 20, giving you a growing season of approximately 191 days.

At an elevation of 1,250 feet, Jackson County receives approximately 33.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 85ยฐF, providing good warmth for Tatsoi during the growing season.

Jackson County, IN (Zone 6a) Moderate season
191 days
Last Spring Frost April 12
191 growing days
First Fall Frost October 20

Jackson County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.8-7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (122 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 4 Transplant: Apr 8 🍅 Harvest: May 13 – Jun 17
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (121 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 8 Transplant: Apr 12 🍅 Harvest: May 17 – Jun 21
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (113 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 26 Transplant: Apr 30 🍅 Harvest: Jun 4 – Jul 9

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 Jackson County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.8โ€“7.0) overlaps with Tatsoi's range (6.0โ€“7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.4%) โ€” Tatsoi will thrive.

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

6
successive plantings in your 191-day season

Sow every 4 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 31 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 11.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/week
You supply
0.3″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 436 gal / 100 sq ft

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€” 1.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 1.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 2.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 3.3" 1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 4.3" 3.7" 0.6" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jun 4.3" 5" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 3.4" 0.9" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Aug 4.3" 3.2" 1.1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2.9" 1.4" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct 4.3" 3" 1.3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov โ€” 2.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 2.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Aprโ€“Oct in Jackson 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 ~584 GDD — county provides 2,626 GDD Excellent fit

Tatsoi Planting Timeline โ€” Jackson County, IN

Tatsoi Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 8 Mar 8 โ€“ Mar 22
Transplant Outdoors April 12 Apr 12 โ€“ Apr 26
Direct Sow March 29 Mar 29 โ€“ Apr 19
Harvest May 17 May 17 โ€“ Jun 21
Fall Sowing August 11 Aug 11 โ€“ Aug 25

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

1"/week ยท Only during dry spells

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

191 days in Jackson County

Growing Tips for Tatsoi in Jackson County

Direct sow Tatsoi outdoors after April 12 in Jackson County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 191.0-day season in Jackson County allows multiple plantings of Tatsoi. Sow every 17.0 days for continuous harvest.

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 Jackson County, IN?

Jackson County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 12. Plan your Tatsoi planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Jackson County, IN?

Jackson County, Indiana is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 12 and first fall frost is October 20.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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