Mizuna in Zone 5a & 5b
Brassica rapa var. nipposinica
Yes, mizuna grows in zones 5a and 5b. Plant it outside Apr 19–Apr 26.
When to plant mizuna in zone 5b
Zones 5a and 5b 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 | Apr 19–Apr 26 |
| Estimated harvest | May 29–Jun 5 (~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 5b
These go outside within two weeks of mizuna in zone 5b, so one planting day can cover them.
- OnionApr 19–Apr 26
- CarrotApr 19–Apr 26
- CabbageApr 26–May 3
- LettuceApr 26–May 3
- BeetApr 19–Apr 26
- Broccoli Rabe (Raab)Apr 19–Apr 26
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 5's season
Zone 5b's frost-free window runs about 148 days, from May 10 to October 5. Mizuna needs about 40 days from sowing to first harvest.
Mizuna planting windows in every zone
Zone 5b 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 (your zone) | 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 | 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 5b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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