Blog

When to Plant Tatsoi in Barton County, KS

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.

Barton County, Kansas is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 20 and the first fall frost is October 16, giving you a growing season of approximately 179 days.

At an elevation of 638 feet, Barton County receives approximately 25.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 90ยฐF, providing good warmth for Tatsoi during the growing season.

Barton County, KS (Zone 6a) Moderate season
179 days
Last Spring Frost April 20
179 growing days
First Fall Frost October 16

Barton County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-7.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (109 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 10 Transplant: Apr 14 🍅 Harvest: May 19 – Jun 23
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (109 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 16 Transplant: Apr 20 🍅 Harvest: May 25 – Jun 29
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (109 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 29 Transplant: May 3 🍅 Harvest: Jun 7 – Jul 12

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 Barton County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.5โ€“7.3) is within Tatsoi's preferred range (6.0โ€“7.5).

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.9%). 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

6
successive plantings in your 179-day season

Sow every 4 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 27 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 07.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.6″/week
You supply
0.5″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 750 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€” 0.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 0.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 1.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 2.7" 1.6" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 4.3" 4.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.3" 3.9" 0.4" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jul 4.3" 3.1" 1.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Aug 4.3" 3" 1.3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2.8" 1.5" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct 4.3" 1.6" 2.7" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Nov โ€” 0.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 0.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Aprโ€“Oct in Barton 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 3,132 GDD Excellent fit

Tatsoi Planting Timeline โ€” Barton County, KS

Tatsoi Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 16 Mar 16 โ€“ Mar 30
Transplant Outdoors April 20 Apr 20 โ€“ May 4
Direct Sow April 6 Apr 6 โ€“ Apr 27
Harvest May 25 May 25 โ€“ Jun 29
Fall Sowing August 7 Aug 7 โ€“ Aug 21

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March Start Indoors
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May Transplant Outdoors 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 1-2 times/week

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

35โ€“50 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7.5 ยท Your soil: ideal

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

179 days in Barton County

Growing Tips for Tatsoi in Barton County

Direct sow Tatsoi outdoors after April 20 in Barton County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 179.0-day season in Barton 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 Barton County, KS?

Barton County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 20. Plan your Tatsoi planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Barton County, KS?

Barton County, Kansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 20 and first fall frost is October 16.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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