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When to Plant Tatsoi in Bernalillo County, NM

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.

Bernalillo County, New Mexico is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 30 and the first fall frost is October 14, giving you a growing season of approximately 167 days.

At an elevation of 4,326 feet, Bernalillo County receives approximately 16.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 91ยฐF, providing good warmth for Tatsoi during the growing season. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring โ€” great for early planting โ€” but Tatsoi will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Tatsoi successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Bernalillo County, NM (Zone 7a) Moderate season
167 days
Last Spring Frost April 30
167 growing days
First Fall Frost October 14

Bernalillo County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

6.8-8.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (100 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 12 Transplant: Apr 16 🍅 Harvest: May 21 – Jun 25
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (97 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 26 Transplant: Apr 30 🍅 Harvest: Jun 4 – Jul 9
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (95 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 25 Transplant: May 30 🍅 Harvest: Jul 4 – Aug 8

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
0.4″/week
You supply
1.1″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 1,587 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Tatsoi needs ~776 GDD — county provides 3,047 GDD Excellent fit

Tatsoi Planting Timeline โ€” Bernalillo County, NM

Tatsoi Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 26 Mar 26 โ€“ Apr 9
Transplant Outdoors April 30 Apr 30 โ€“ May 14
Direct Sow April 16 Apr 16 โ€“ May 7
Fall Sowing August 5 Aug 5 โ€“ Aug 19
Harvest June 4 Jun 4 โ€“ Jul 9

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
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 7a

Growing Season

167 days

Growing Tips for Bernalillo 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 Bernalillo County, NM?

Bernalillo County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 30. Plan your Tatsoi planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Bernalillo County, NM?

Bernalillo County, New Mexico is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 30 and first fall frost is October 14.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Bernalillo County gardeners in Zone 7a 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 Bernalillo County, NM. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.