When to plant Cabbage
A dependable cool-season head brassica. Even moisture and cool temperatures grow firm, solid heads; a sudden drink after dry spells can split them. Stores well and, in mild zones, takes light frost in stride.
Companions: Onion, beets, dill, chamomile — avoid strawberries and tomatoes
How to grow Cabbage
Cabbage is usually started indoors and transplanted out, giving this half-hardy crop the head start it needs. Give it full sun and space plants about 18 inches apart. It takes roughly 70 days from planting to its first harvest, so count that against your frost dates to be sure it can finish. Classic companions include onion, beets, dill, chamomile — avoid strawberries and tomatoes.
Grower's tip: Start indoors and transplant while it's still cool. Steady moisture prevents split heads.
When to plant Cabbage by USDA zone
Timing shifts with your climate — the same cabbage goes in weeks earlier in a mild zone than a cold one. Find your zone below for its planting window, or open that zone's full calendar.
| Zone | When to plant |
|---|---|
| Zone 1a | Start seeds indoors Apr 20–May 4 Transplant outdoors Jun 1–Jun 15 |
| Zone 1b | Start seeds indoors Apr 15–Apr 29 Transplant outdoors May 27–Jun 10 |
| Zone 2a | Start seeds indoors Apr 10–Apr 24 Transplant outdoors May 22–Jun 5 |
| Zone 2b | Start seeds indoors Apr 4–Apr 18 Transplant outdoors May 16–May 30 |
| Zone 3a | Start seeds indoors Mar 30–Apr 13 Transplant outdoors May 11–May 25 |
| Zone 3b | Start seeds indoors Mar 25–Apr 8 Transplant outdoors May 6–May 20 |
| Zone 4a | Start seeds indoors Mar 20–Apr 3 Transplant outdoors May 1–May 15 |
| Zone 4b | Start seeds indoors Mar 15–Mar 29 Transplant outdoors Apr 26–May 10 |
| Zone 5a | Start seeds indoors Mar 10–Mar 24 Transplant outdoors Apr 21–May 5 |
| Zone 5b | Start seeds indoors Mar 5–Mar 19 Transplant outdoors Apr 16–Apr 30 |
| Zone 6a | Start seeds indoors Feb 24–Mar 10 Transplant outdoors Apr 7–Apr 21 |
| Zone 6b | Start seeds indoors Feb 18–Mar 4 Transplant outdoors Apr 1–Apr 15 |
| Zone 7a | Start seeds indoors Feb 10–Feb 24 Transplant outdoors Mar 24–Apr 7 |
| Zone 7b | Start seeds indoors Feb 4–Feb 18 Transplant outdoors Mar 18–Apr 1 |
| Zone 8a | Start seeds indoors Jan 25–Feb 8 Transplant outdoors Mar 8–Mar 22 |
| Zone 8b | Start seeds indoors Jan 18–Feb 1 Transplant outdoors Mar 1–Mar 15 |
| Zone 9a | Start seeds indoors Jan 3–Jan 17 Transplant outdoors Feb 14–Feb 28 |
| Zone 9b | Start seeds indoors Dec 21–Jan 4 Transplant outdoors Feb 1–Feb 15 |
| Zone 10a | Start seeds indoors Dec 6–Dec 20 Transplant outdoors Jan 17–Jan 31 |
| Zone 10b | Start seeds indoors Nov 20–Dec 4 Transplant outdoors Jan 1–Jan 15 |
| Zone 11a | Start seeds indoors Nov 6–Nov 20 Transplant outdoors Dec 18–Jan 1 |
| Zone 11b | Start seeds indoors Nov 6–Nov 20 Transplant outdoors Dec 18–Jan 1 |
| Zone 12a | Start seeds indoors Nov 6–Nov 20 Transplant outdoors Dec 18–Jan 1 |
| Zone 12b | Start seeds indoors Nov 6–Nov 20 Transplant outdoors Dec 18–Jan 1 |
| Zone 13a | Start seeds indoors Nov 6–Nov 20 Transplant outdoors Dec 18–Jan 1 |
| Zone 13b | Start seeds indoors Nov 6–Nov 20 Transplant outdoors Dec 18–Jan 1 |