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 | Dec 27 – Jan 31 | Sep 11 – Oct 26 |
| Zone 10 | Dec 7 – Jan 11 | Sep 21 – Nov 5 |
Know when it's time to plant
Give us your ZIP and we'll email you a planting checklist for your exact frost dates, this month's list right now, then once a month when sow windows open.
One email a month, only when there's something to plant. Unsubscribe anytime.
Know before you grow
The practical stuff.
Ready to pick when
Take outer spoon-shaped leaves any time, or cut the whole flat rosette at full size.
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 · Black rot · Cabbage root maggot, 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, carrot, radish. Keep away from tomato, tomato, tomato.
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.
Tatsoi planting questions
How many tatsoi plants do I need per person?+
For steady eating (about 3 servings a week), plan on roughly 53 plants per person. A family of 4 needs about 211 plants, which takes around 124 sq ft of bed space.
How much space does tatsoi need?+
Space plants 7" apart in the row with 12" between rows. Sow 0.25" deep. Direct sow in the bed.
When should I plant tatsoi?+
It depends on your frost dates. Spring sowing is keyed to your last spring frost. It also has a fall window keyed to your first fall frost. The zone table on this page shows typical windows; enter your ZIP in the free planner for dates tuned to your exact location, not just your zone.
Is growing tatsoi worth it?+
At about $4.00/lb retail and ~0.2 lb per plant, a family-of-4 planting is worth about $169 a year at the store. Prices vary by region and season, so treat it as an estimate.