leafy · direct sow
Tatsoi: how much to plant.
A family of 4 eating tatsoi a few times a week needs about 211 plants in ~124 sq ft, worth about $169 a year at the store. Here are the exact numbers for your household, and when to plant in every zone.
How much to plant
Plants, space, seeds, and value.
Counts assume about 3 servings per person per week with a germination buffer built in. Store value uses ~$4.00/lb retail — an estimate that varies by region and season.
| Household | Plants | Bed space | Seeds to buy | Store value / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 53 | ~31 sq ft | ~94 | ~$42 |
| 2 people | 106 | ~62 sq ft | ~188 | ~$85 |
| 4 people | 211 | ~124 sq ft | ~373 | ~$169 |
| 6 people | 317 | ~185 sq ft | ~560 | ~$254 |
Spacing
7" in row · 12" between rows
Sow depth
0.25"
Days to harvest
45 from seed
When to plant
Sow windows by USDA zone, 2026.
Zone dates are typical, not exact. The free planner uses your ZIP code's frost dates, not just the zone, and shifts every window to match.
| Zone | Spring sow window | Fall sow window |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | Mar 21 – Apr 25 | Jun 22 – Aug 6 |
| Zone 4 | Mar 16 – Apr 20 | Jul 2 – Aug 16 |
| Zone 5 | Mar 6 – Apr 10 | Jul 12 – Aug 26 |
| Zone 6 | Feb 24 – Mar 31 | Jul 22 – Sep 5 |
| Zone 7 | Feb 9 – Mar 16 | Aug 1 – Sep 15 |
| Zone 8 | Jan 29 – Mar 5 | Aug 22 – Oct 6 |
| Zone 9 | Jan 1 – Jan 31 | Sep 11 – Oct 26 |
| Zone 10 | Jan 1 – Jan 11 | Sep 21 – Nov 5 |
Know before you grow
The practical stuff.
Yield
About 0.2 lbs per plant over ~3 productive weeks (~0.2 lb). Re-sow every ~14 days for a steady supply instead of one glut.
Watch for
Cabbage worms & loopers · Aphids · Flea beetles — the pest guide covers organic fixes for each, and Pest Radar shows what gardeners near you are reporting right now.
Neighbors
Plays well with garlic, onion-bulb, carrot, radish. Keep away from tomato-slicing, tomato-cherry, tomato-paste.
Stop guessing. Get your exact numbers.
Tell the free planner what you want to eat and who you're feeding. It returns plant counts, spacing, and frost-safe sow dates for your ZIP code — not just your zone — in about 60 seconds.