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When to Plant Tatsoi in Wood County, TX

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.

Wood County, Texas is in USDA Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 12 and the first fall frost is November 16, giving you a growing season of approximately 249 days.

At an elevation of 15 feet, Wood County receives approximately 65.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 94ยฐF, 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. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Tatsoi root diseases.

Wood County, TX (Zone 8a) Long season
249 days
Last Spring Frost March 12
249 growing days
First Fall Frost November 16

Wood County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

5.8-6.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (181 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 29 Transplant: Mar 5 🍅 Harvest: Apr 9 – May 14
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (179 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 5 Transplant: Mar 12 🍅 Harvest: Apr 16 – May 21
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (175 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 23 Transplant: Mar 30 🍅 Harvest: May 4 – Jun 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.

Soil Compatibility in Wood County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.8โ€“6.5) overlaps with Tatsoi's range (6.0โ€“7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

Sandy soil in Wood County warms quickly in spring but drains fast. Tatsoi will need more frequent watering and regular compost additions to retain nutrients.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is low (1.8%). Add 2-3 inches of compost before planting 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

8
successive plantings in your 249-day season

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

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Sep 07.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
1.1″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 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€” 1.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 2.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar 4.3" 4.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Apr 4.3" 6.7" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
May 4.3" 10.7" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.3" 9.1" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 8.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 7.7" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 6.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 4.3" 4.1" 0.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov 4.3" 2.5" 1.8" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Dec โ€” 1.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Marโ€“Nov in Wood 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 ~871 GDD — county provides 5,104 GDD Excellent fit

Tatsoi Planting Timeline โ€” Wood County, TX

Tatsoi Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 5 Feb 5 โ€“ Feb 19
Transplant Outdoors March 12 Mar 12 โ€“ Mar 26
Direct Sow February 26 Feb 26 โ€“ Mar 19
Harvest April 16 Apr 16 โ€“ May 21
Fall Sowing September 7 Sep 7 โ€“ Sep 21

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February Start Indoors Direct Sow
March Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
April Harvest
May Harvest
June โ€”
July โ€”
August โ€”
September Fall Sowing
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

1"/week ยท Natural rainfall sufficient

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

35โ€“50 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7.5 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 8a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

249 days in Wood County

Growing Tips for Tatsoi in Wood County

Direct sow Tatsoi outdoors after March 12 in Wood County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in Wood County dries quickly โ€” mulch Tatsoi with 2-3 inches of straw and water deeply 2-3 times per week rather than lightly every day.

Your generous 249.0-day season in Wood 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 Wood County, TX?

Wood County is in Zone 8a with an average last frost of March 12. Plan your Tatsoi planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Wood County, TX?

Wood County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 12 and first fall frost is November 16.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Wood County gardeners in Zone 8a 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 Wood County, TX. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.