When to plant cabbages by city
Start cabbages indoors 6–8 weeks before your last frost, plant them out 2–4 weeks before your last frost. For a fall crop, sow 10–14 weeks before your first fall frost. Here is what that means for 2027 in cities across the US, using each city’s average frost dates (NOAA 1991–2020). Pick the city with the climate most like yours, or enter your ZIP code above.
| City | Last frost | Start indoors | Plant out | Fall crop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA (9a) | Mar 13 | Jan 16–30 | Feb 13–27 | Aug 11 – Sep 8 |
| Portland, OR (8b) | Feb 25 | Dec 31 – Jan 14 | Jan 28 – Feb 11 | Aug 25 – Sep 22 |
| Sacramento, CA (9b) | Jan 12 | Nov 17 – Dec 1 | Dec 15–29 | Sep 9 – Oct 7 |
| Phoenix, AZ (10a) | Jan 5 | Nov 10–24 | Dec 8–22 | Sep 27 – Oct 25 |
| Salt Lake City, UT (7b) | Mar 31 | Feb 3–17 | Mar 3–17 | Aug 2–30 |
| Denver, CO (6a) | Apr 30 | Mar 5–19 | Apr 2–16 | Jul 6 – Aug 3 |
| Dallas, TX (8b) | Mar 2 | Jan 5–19 | Feb 2–16 | Aug 23 – Sep 20 |
| Minneapolis, MN (5a) | Apr 23 | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | Mar 26 – Apr 9 | Jul 10 – Aug 7 |
| Kansas City, MO (6b) | Apr 4 | Feb 7–21 | Mar 7–21 | Jul 27 – Aug 24 |
| Chicago, IL (6b) | Apr 10 | Feb 13–27 | Mar 13–27 | Jul 30 – Aug 27 |
| Columbus, OH (6b) | Apr 20 | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | Jul 18 – Aug 15 |
| Nashville, TN (7b) | Apr 1 | Feb 4–18 | Mar 4–18 | Jul 25 – Aug 22 |
| Atlanta, GA (8a) | Mar 24 | Jan 27 – Feb 10 | Feb 24 – Mar 10 | Aug 2–30 |
| Raleigh, NC (8a) | Mar 28 | Jan 31 – Feb 14 | Feb 28 – Mar 14 | Aug 2–30 |
| Philadelphia, PA (7b) | Mar 30 | Feb 2–16 | Mar 2–16 | Aug 11 – Sep 8 |
| Boston, MA (7a) | Apr 4 | Feb 7–21 | Mar 7–21 | Aug 3–31 |
In frost-free parts of Florida, southern California and the Gulf Coast, timing is about heat instead: grow cabbages from fall through winter.
Cabbage spacing
In a square-foot bed, plant 1 per square foot. In traditional rows, space plants about 18 inches apart with 30 inches between rows.
Early varieties for spring, storage types for fall.
How to grow cabbages
Cabbage is a dependable cool-season crop that handles frost and stores well. Early varieties are quick and suit spring planting, while larger, slower storage types are best grown for a fall harvest. It is a good crop for beginners as long as the caterpillars are kept in check.
Sun and soil
Full sun and fertile, well-drained soil rich in organic matter, pH about 6.0–7.0. Keep moisture even, about 1–2 inches a week, especially while heads form.
Planting
- Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before transplanting, ¼–½ inch deep.
- Transplant 2–4 weeks before the last spring frost, once soil reaches 45°F, setting plants slightly deeper than they grew in the pot.
- Space 18 inches apart in rows 30 inches apart; closer spacing gives smaller heads.
- For fall, set out transplants 10–14 weeks before the first fall frost.
Care
- Water deeply and evenly; drip irrigation works well.
- Side-dress with nitrogen about 4 weeks after transplanting, and stop feeding once heads begin to form.
- Mulch to hold moisture and suppress weeds while roots are shallow.
- If a mature head is at risk of splitting before you can use it, twist it a quarter turn or pull it up slightly to break some roots and slow growth.
Harvest
Harvest when the head feels firm and solid when squeezed, before it splits. Cut the stem just below the head and leave a couple of wrapper leaves on. Leaving the stump in place can produce a few small secondary heads.
Common problems
- Split heads: Caused by heavy rain or watering after a dry spell, or by late fertilizer. Water evenly and harvest mature heads promptly.
- Cabbageworms and loopers: Velvety green caterpillars chewing holes. Row cover from planting day, hand-picking, and Bt all work well.
- Cabbage aphids: Gray, waxy colonies deep in the leaves. Spray with water or insecticidal soap early, before they get into the head.
- Black rot: Yellow, V-shaped lesions on leaf edges with dark veins. Rotate brassicas out for at least 3 years, remove debris, and avoid working among wet plants.
Varieties to try
- 'Golden Acre' — early, small round heads
- 'Ruby Ball' — red, early, holds well in the garden
- 'Savoy Ace' — crinkled savoy leaves, mild flavor
- 'Danish Ballhead' — late storage cabbage
Crop rotation
Cabbages belong to the cabbage family (Brassicaceae). Clubroot and cabbage pests build up in the soil. Rotate for at least 3 years. Relatives that count as the same family for rotation: broccoli, cauliflower, kale, brussels sprouts, radish, turnip, arugula, bok choy, kohlrabi.
Frequently asked questions
When should I plant cabbages?
What grows well with cabbages?
What should not be planted with cabbages?
How far apart should I plant cabbages?
How long do cabbages take to grow?
Can cabbages handle frost?
Sources
- Frost dates: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
- Hardiness zones: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, USDA-ARS and PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University.
- Planting windows and spacing: Vegetable Planting Guide (GardenNotes #720), Colorado State University Extension, and other land-grant extension guides.
- Gardening with Companion Plants (EM128E), Linda Chalker-Scott, Washington State University Extension, 2023
- Brassica flea beetles, UMass Amherst Vegetable Program
- Trap Cropping, Washington State University Extension Master Gardener Program
- Trap cropping: a review of the state of the art, Sarkar et al., 2018 (open-access review)
- Cabbage in the Garden — Utah State University Extension