Mizuna in Zone 10a & 10b
Brassica rapa var. nipposinica
Yes, mizuna grows in zones 10a and 10b. Plant it outside Jan 9–Jan 16.
When to plant mizuna in zone 10b
Zones 10a and 10b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Direct sow: Direct-sow outside. It doesn't transplant well, or doesn't need the extra time indoors.
| Start indoors | Not typically started indoors |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Jan 9–Jan 16 |
| Estimated harvest | Feb 18–Feb 25 (~40 days after direct-sowing) |
Spacing: 9 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 0.5-1 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 10b
These go outside within two weeks of mizuna in zone 10b, so one planting day can cover them.
- Broccoli Rabe (Raab)Jan 9–Jan 16
- TatsoiJan 9–Jan 16
- Flower SproutsJan 16–Jan 23
- Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli)Jan 16–Jan 23
- KalettesJan 16–Jan 23
- KomatsunaJan 16–Jan 23
Mizuna is a feathery-leaved Japanese mustard green prized for its mild, slightly peppery flavor and quick turnaround, one of the fastest crops you can put in a salad-garden bed.
How mizuna fits zone 10's season
Zone 10b's frost-free window runs about 324 days, from January 30 to December 20. Mizuna needs about 40 days from sowing to first harvest.
Mizuna planting windows in every zone
Zone 10b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2a & 2b | Not usually | Apr 29–May 6 | Jun 8–Jun 15 |
| 3a & 3b | Not usually | May 9–May 16 | Jun 18–Jun 25 |
| 4a & 4b | Not usually | Apr 24–May 1 | Jun 3–Jun 10 |
| 5a & 5b | Not usually | Apr 19–Apr 26 | May 29–Jun 5 |
| 6a & 6b | Not usually | Apr 4–Apr 11 | May 14–May 21 |
| 7a & 7b | Not usually | Mar 20–Mar 27 | Apr 29–May 6 |
| 8a & 8b | Not usually | Mar 4–Mar 11 | Apr 13–Apr 20 |
| 9a & 9b | Not usually | Jan 25–Feb 1 | Mar 6–Mar 13 |
| 10a & 10b (your zone) | Not usually | Jan 9–Jan 16 | Feb 18–Feb 25 |
| 11a & 11b | Not usually | Dec 11–Dec 18 | Jan 20–Jan 27 |
Harvest dates are about 40 days after the sow or plant-out date.
Zone 2 sows before zone 3 here, which looks wrong and is not. USDA zones rank winter cold, not season length, and zone 2 is mostly interior Alaska, where hard winters come with warm summers. More on what a zone measures.
Good companions
- Radish: Radish (including the daikon form) is a documented trap crop for flea beetles, which prefer its mustard oils over other brassicas and can be sacrificed or pulled once infested: the same research cited on the radish page.
Where to buy mizuna seeds
True Leaf Market (each supplier's mizuna seeds)
Varieties we recommend, and where to get them:
- 'Red Streaks' (Brassica rapa var. nipposinica): True Leaf Market's Kitazawa-line 'Red Streaks' holds up to heat and bolts later than lettuce, useful if you want mizuna past its usual spring window. Buy: True Leaf Market Full notes
- 'Early' (Kyona) mizuna: True Leaf Market's Kyona strain matures faster than Red Streaks, in 45 days against 45-plus for the colored type, with plain dark green, long slender stems. Buy: True Leaf Market Full notes
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing mizuna" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
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Growing Mizuna in USDA zone 10b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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