WhenToPlantGuide

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When to plant cabbage

Plant cabbage 2–4 weeks before the last spring frost in spring, or 11–14 weeks before the first fall frost for a fall crop. Wait until the soil is at least 45°F. That works out to zone 5b (early April to late April), zone 7a (mid March to early April) and zone 9a (early February to mid February).

Cabbage planting dates by zone

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec 2a Start indoors Mar 25 – Apr 8 Plant Apr 22 – May 6 3b Start indoors Mar 22 – Apr 5 Plant Apr 19 – May 3 Fall planting Jun 17 – Jul 8 4a Start indoors Mar 20 – Apr 3 Plant Apr 17 – May 1 Fall planting Jun 20 – Jul 11 4b Start indoors Mar 18 – Apr 1 Plant Apr 15 – Apr 29 Fall planting Jun 23 – Jul 14 5a Start indoors Mar 16 – Mar 30 Plant Apr 13 – Apr 27 Fall planting Jun 25 – Jul 16 5b Start indoors Mar 10 – Mar 24 Plant Apr 7 – Apr 21 Fall planting Jul 2 – Jul 23 6a Start indoors Mar 5 – Mar 19 Plant Apr 2 – Apr 16 Fall planting Jul 9 – Jul 30 6b Start indoors Feb 27 – Mar 13 Plant Mar 27 – Apr 10 Fall planting Jul 13 – Aug 3 7a Start indoors Feb 18 – Mar 4 Plant Mar 18 – Apr 1 Fall planting Jul 19 – Aug 9 7b Start indoors Feb 9 – Feb 23 Plant Mar 9 – Mar 23 Fall planting Jul 26 – Aug 16 8a Start indoors Jan 30 – Feb 13 Plant Feb 27 – Mar 13 Fall planting Aug 1 – Aug 22 8b Start indoors Jan 19 – Feb 2 Plant Feb 16 – Mar 2 Fall planting Aug 9 – Aug 30 9a Start indoors Jan 5 – Jan 19 Plant Feb 2 – Feb 16 Fall planting Aug 20 – Sep 10 9b Start indoors Dec 10 – Dec 24 Plant Jan 7 – Jan 21 Fall planting Sep 3 – Sep 24 10a Start indoors Nov 13 – Nov 27 Plant Dec 11 – Dec 25 Fall planting Sep 17 – Oct 8
■ spring planting · ■ fall planting · ■ start seeds indoors. Zones from the USDA 2023 map; dates from NOAA frost normals for the weather stations in each zone.
ZoneSpringFallcabbage ready from
4a Apr 17 – May 1Jun 20 – Jul 11 Jun 23
4b Apr 15 – Apr 29Jun 23 – Jul 14 Jun 21
5a Apr 13 – Apr 27Jun 25 – Jul 16 Jun 19
5b Apr 7 – Apr 21Jul 2 – Jul 23 Jun 13
6a Apr 2 – Apr 16Jul 9 – Jul 30 Jun 8
6b Mar 27 – Apr 10Jul 13 – Aug 3 Jun 2
7a Mar 18 – Apr 1Jul 19 – Aug 9 May 24
7b Mar 9 – Mar 23Jul 26 – Aug 16 May 15
8a Feb 27 – Mar 13Aug 1 – Aug 22 May 5
8b Feb 16 – Mar 2Aug 9 – Aug 30 Apr 24
9a Feb 2 – Feb 16Aug 20 – Sep 10 Apr 10
9b Jan 7 – Jan 21Sep 3 – Sep 24 Mar 15

How to plant cabbage

Plant astransplants
Soil temperature45°F or warmer
DepthSame depth as the pot
Spacing12–24 in
LightFull sun
Time to harvest60–100 days
Start indoors6–8 weeks before the last frost (zone 6a: Mar 5 – Mar 19; zone 8a: Jan 30 – Feb 13)

Cabbage transplants handle light frost.

Early varieties form small heads quickly; storage types need the long fall season.

Rotate cabbage-family crops to a new bed each year.

When to harvest cabbage

Cut when heads feel solid; split heads mean they waited too long or got a heavy rain.

Exact dates for your town: planting calendar · frost dates by state.

More vegetables to plant

Tomatoes · Bell peppers · Potatoes · Pumpkins · Cucumbers · Okra · Zucchini · Watermelon