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When to Plant Tatsoi in Worcester County, MA

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.

Worcester County, Massachusetts is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 24 and the first fall frost is October 17, giving you a growing season of approximately 176 days.

At an elevation of 972 feet, Worcester County receives approximately 38 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 85ยฐF, providing good warmth for Tatsoi during the growing season.

Worcester County, MA (Zone 6a) Moderate season
176 days
Last Spring Frost April 24
176 growing days
First Fall Frost October 17

Worcester County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

4.8-6.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (104 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 16 Transplant: Apr 20 🍅 Harvest: May 25 – Jun 29
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (106 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 20 Transplant: Apr 24 🍅 Harvest: May 29 – Jul 3
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (102 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 8 Transplant: May 13 🍅 Harvest: Jun 17 – Jul 22

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
0.9″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Tatsoi needs ~584 GDD — county provides 2,420 GDD Excellent fit

Tatsoi Planting Timeline โ€” Worcester County, MA

Tatsoi Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 20 Mar 20 โ€“ Apr 3
Transplant Outdoors April 24 Apr 24 โ€“ May 8
Direct Sow April 10 Apr 10 โ€“ May 1
Fall Sowing August 8 Aug 8 โ€“ Aug 22
Harvest May 29 May 29 โ€“ Jul 3

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March Start Indoors
April Start Indoors Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow Harvest
June Harvest
July Harvest
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

176 days

Growing Tips for Worcester 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 Worcester County, MA?

Worcester County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 24. Plan your Tatsoi planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Worcester County, MA?

Worcester County, Massachusetts is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 24 and first fall frost is October 17.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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