US Grow Zones

When to plant cabbage by zone

Last updated · Sources: NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 Climate Normals frost dates; timing rules described in our methodology

Brassica oleracea (Capitata) is a cool-season crop that is hardy to frost. Rule of thumb: start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost; plant out from 4 weeks before to 2 weeks before the last frost; for a fall crop, sow or plant 10–12 weeks before the first fall frost.

SeasonCoolhardy to frost
Days to maturity60–100from transplant
Min. soil temp45°F7.2°C, at planting
Spacing12–18 inin the row

Cabbage planting dates by zone

Each row uses the median 30%-risk frost dates of the major cities in that zone; rows marked * have no major city and use the median of NOAA stations in that zone instead. Frost dates vary a lot within a zone, so use your city page for local dates. In frost-free climates: Sep 1 – Jan 31.

Cabbage planting windows by hardiness zoneCabbage planting windows by USDA zone. zone 1a: indoor Apr 3–Apr 17, transplant May 1–May 15; zone 1b: indoor Apr 3–Apr 17, transplant May 1–May 15; zone 2a: indoor Mar 26–Apr 9, transplant Apr 23–May 7; zone 2b: indoor Mar 25–Apr 8, transplant Apr 22–May 6; zone 3a: indoor Apr 9–Apr 23, transplant May 7–May 21; zone 3b: indoor Mar 29–Apr 12, transplant Apr 26–May 10, fall Jun 26–Jul 10; zone 4a: indoor Mar 17–Mar 31, transplant Apr 14–Apr 28, fall Jul 5–Jul 19; zone 4b: indoor Mar 10–Mar 24, transplant Apr 7–Apr 21, fall Jul 12–Jul 26; zone 5a: indoor Mar 9–Mar 23, transplant Apr 6–Apr 20, fall Jul 11–Jul 25; zone 5b: indoor Mar 9–Mar 23, transplant Apr 6–Apr 20, fall Jul 17–Jul 31; zone 6a: indoor Mar 9–Mar 23, transplant Apr 6–Apr 20, fall Jul 17–Jul 31; zone 6b: indoor Mar 1–Mar 15, transplant Mar 29–Apr 12, fall Jul 29–Aug 12; zone 7a: indoor Feb 25–Mar 11, transplant Mar 25–Apr 8, fall Jul 29–Aug 12; zone 7b: indoor Feb 13–Feb 27, transplant Mar 13–Mar 27, fall Aug 4–Aug 18; zone 8a: indoor Feb 4–Feb 18, transplant Mar 4–Mar 18, fall Aug 11–Aug 25; zone 8b: indoor Jan 25–Feb 8, transplant Feb 22–Mar 8, fall Aug 18–Sep 1; zone 9a: indoor Jan 14–Jan 28, transplant Feb 11–Feb 25, fall Aug 27–Sep 10; zone 9b: indoor Dec 18–Jan 1, transplant Jan 15–Jan 29, fall Sep 10–Sep 24; zone 10a: indoor Dec 1–Dec 15, transplant Dec 29–Jan 12, fall Sep 22–Oct 6; zone 10b: indoor Dec 2–Dec 16, transplant Dec 30–Jan 13, fall Sep 20–Oct 4; zone 11a: ff Sep 1–Jan 31; zone 11b: ff Sep 1–Jan JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec1a*1b*2a2b*3a*3b*4a4b5a5b6a6b7a7b8a8b9a9b10a10b11a11b*12a*12b13a*13b*Start indoorsPlant outDirect sowFall cropFrost-free climate window · * estimated zone
Planting windows by zone, drawn from the table below. Zones marked * have no major city on this site and use NOAA station estimates.
ZoneMedian last frostStart indoorsTransplant / plant outDirect sowFall crop
1a*May 29Apr 3 – Apr 17May 1 – May 15——
1b*May 29Apr 3 – Apr 17May 1 – May 15——
2aMay 21Mar 26 – Apr 9Apr 23 – May 7——
2b*May 20Mar 25 – Apr 8Apr 22 – May 6——
3a*Jun 4Apr 9 – Apr 23May 7 – May 21——
3b*May 24Mar 29 – Apr 12Apr 26 – May 10—Jun 26 – Jul 10
4aMay 12Mar 17 – Mar 31Apr 14 – Apr 28—Jul 5 – Jul 19
4bMay 5Mar 10 – Mar 24Apr 7 – Apr 21—Jul 12 – Jul 26
5aMay 4Mar 9 – Mar 23Apr 6 – Apr 20—Jul 11 – Jul 25
5bMay 4Mar 9 – Mar 23Apr 6 – Apr 20—Jul 17 – Jul 31
6aMay 4Mar 9 – Mar 23Apr 6 – Apr 20—Jul 17 – Jul 31
6bApr 26Mar 1 – Mar 15Mar 29 – Apr 12—Jul 29 – Aug 12
7aApr 22Feb 25 – Mar 11Mar 25 – Apr 8—Jul 29 – Aug 12
7bApr 10Feb 13 – Feb 27Mar 13 – Mar 27—Aug 4 – Aug 18
8aApr 1Feb 4 – Feb 18Mar 4 – Mar 18—Aug 11 – Aug 25
8bMar 22Jan 25 – Feb 8Feb 22 – Mar 8—Aug 18 – Sep 1
9aMar 11Jan 14 – Jan 28Feb 11 – Feb 25—Aug 27 – Sep 10
9bFeb 12Dec 18 – Jan 1Jan 15 – Jan 29—Sep 10 – Sep 24
10aJan 26Dec 1 – Dec 15Dec 29 – Jan 12—Sep 22 – Oct 6
10bJan 27Dec 2 – Dec 16Dec 30 – Jan 13—Sep 20 – Oct 4
11aRareSep 1 – Jan 31
11b*RareSep 1 – Jan 31
12a*RareSep 1 – Jan 31
12bRareSep 1 – Jan 31
13a*RareSep 1 – Jan 31
13b*RareSep 1 – Jan 31

Growing tips

Related guides: which frost date to use · succession and fall planting.

Exact dates for your city

Popular: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Phoenix, Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Diego, Dallas, Jacksonville, Fort Worth, San Jose — or browse all cities by state.

Other crops: Tomato, Pepper, Lettuce, Green Beans, Sweet Corn, Zucchini & Summer Squash, Cucumber, Carrot, Onion, Potato, Basil, Spinach, Kale, Broccoli, Peas, Eggplant, Radish, Strawberry, Beets

Cabbage planting questions

When should I start cabbage seeds indoors?

About 6–8 weeks before your last spring frost. Using the median frost dates of cities on this site: zone 5a (median last frost May 4): Mar 9 – Mar 23; zone 6b (median last frost Apr 26): Mar 1 – Mar 15; zone 8a (median last frost Apr 1): Feb 4 – Feb 18.

When can I plant cabbage outside?

Set out transplants from 4 weeks before to 2 weeks before the last frost, once the soil reaches about 45°F (7.2°C). Examples: zone 5a (median last frost May 4): Apr 6 – Apr 20; zone 6b (median last frost Apr 26): Mar 29 – Apr 12; zone 8a (median last frost Apr 1): Mar 4 – Mar 18.

Can I grow cabbage as a fall crop?

Yes. Sow or plant 10–12 weeks before your first fall frost. For a first frost around Oct 15, that is Jul 23 – Aug 6. Add about two weeks to the days to maturity for slower fall growth — see fall planting.

How long does cabbage take to grow?

60–100 days from transplant. As a hardy cool-season crop it grows best in cool weather, so spring plantings should mature before summer heat, and fall plantings need about two extra weeks because days are shorter.

When do you plant cabbage where frost is rare?

In frost-free climates, plant cabbage Sep 1 – Jan 31, timing growth for the mildest months. This applies to cities such as Los Angeles, CA, San Diego, CA, San Francisco, CA.