Blog

When to Plant Tatsoi in Wallowa County, OR

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.

Wallowa County, Oregon is in USDA Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is May 11 and the first fall frost is September 22, giving you a growing season of approximately 134 days.

At an elevation of 1,240 feet, Wallowa County receives approximately 22.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 85ยฐF, providing good warmth for Tatsoi during the growing season.

Wallowa County, OR (Zone 5a) Short season
134 days
Last Spring Frost May 11
134 growing days
First Fall Frost September 22

Wallowa County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.3-6.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (62 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 27 Transplant: May 1 🍅 Harvest: Jun 5 – Jul 10
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (64 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 6 Transplant: May 11 🍅 Harvest: Jun 15 – Jul 20
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (69 days to spare)
Start indoors: May 8 Transplant: Jun 12 🍅 Harvest: Jul 17 – Aug 21

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 Wallowa County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.3โ€“6.2) is more acidic than Tatsoi prefers (6.0โ€“7.5). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

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

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Tatsoi.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (5.4%) 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

4
successive plantings in your 134-day season

Sow every 4 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 03 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 14.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/week
You supply
0.6″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 706 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€” 2.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 2.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 2.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr โ€” 1.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
May 4.3" 1.3" 3" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jun 4.3" 1" 3.3" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 0.4" 3.9" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Aug 4.3" 0.4" 3.9" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Sep 4.3" 1" 3.3" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Oct โ€” 2.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Nov โ€” 3.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 3.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Mayโ€“Sep in Wallowa 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 1,842 GDD Excellent fit

Tatsoi Planting Timeline โ€” Wallowa County, OR

Tatsoi Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 6 Apr 6 โ€“ Apr 20
Transplant Outdoors May 11 May 11 โ€“ May 25
Direct Sow April 27 Apr 27 โ€“ May 18
Harvest June 15 Jun 15 โ€“ Jul 20
Fall Sowing July 14 Jul 14 โ€“ Jul 28

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March โ€”
April Start Indoors Direct Sow
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June Harvest
July Fall Sowing Harvest
August โ€”
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: too_acidic

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 5a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

134 days in Wallowa County

Growing Tips for Tatsoi in Wallowa County

Direct sow Tatsoi outdoors after May 11 in Wallowa County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 134.0-day season in Wallowa 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.

Wallowa County receives only 23" of rain annually. Tatsoi needs consistent moisture โ€” install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

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 Wallowa County, OR?

Wallowa County is in Zone 5a with an average last frost of May 11. Plan your Tatsoi planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Wallowa County, OR?

Wallowa County, Oregon is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is May 11 and first fall frost is September 22.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Wallowa County gardeners in Zone 5a 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 Wallowa County, OR. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.