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When to Plant Tatsoi in Rice 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.

Rice County, Kansas is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 16 and the first fall frost is October 18, giving you a growing season of approximately 185 days.

At an elevation of 1,019 feet, Rice County receives approximately 24.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 90ยฐF, providing good warmth for Tatsoi during the growing season.

Rice County, KS (Zone 6a) Moderate season
185 days
Last Spring Frost April 16
185 growing days
First Fall Frost October 18

Rice County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.2-7.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (114 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 9 Transplant: Apr 13 🍅 Harvest: May 18 – Jun 22
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (115 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 12 Transplant: Apr 16 🍅 Harvest: May 21 – Jun 25
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (115 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 28 Transplant: May 2 🍅 Harvest: Jun 6 – Jul 11

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.

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 872 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Tatsoi needs ~744 GDD — county provides 3,237 GDD Excellent fit

Tatsoi Planting Timeline โ€” Rice County, KS

Tatsoi Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 12 Mar 12 โ€“ Mar 26
Transplant Outdoors April 16 Apr 16 โ€“ Apr 30
Direct Sow April 2 Apr 2 โ€“ Apr 23
Fall Sowing August 9 Aug 9 โ€“ Aug 23
Harvest May 21 May 21 โ€“ Jun 25

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 Harvest
June Harvest
July โ€”
August Fall Sowing
September โ€”
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

Days to Maturity

35โ€“50 days

Soil pH

6 โ€“ 7.5

USDA Zone

Zone 6a

Growing Season

185 days

Growing Tips for Rice 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

Level Up Your Garden

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Tatsoi in Rice County, KS?

Rice County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 16. Plan your Tatsoi planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Rice County, KS?

Rice County, Kansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 16 and first fall frost is October 18.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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