Cabbage Planting Guide

April

How to handle cabbage in April

Whether you're sowing, transplanting, or harvesting, cabbage needs the right timing. Check your zone below for exact dates.

Sun full sun

Water moderate

Days to harvest 60–100

Plant depth 1″

Spacing 15″

How to water cabbage
Consistent moisture matters more than volume for cabbage. Little and often beats occasional drenching.
Where to put cabbage
South-facing beds are ideal for cabbage. Shade from nearby trees or fences costs real production.
Check your local forecast before planting
Your zone determines the exact week to plant cabbage. Pick your county below and we'll line everything up against your frost dates.

Pick your county for exact cabbage timing →

Cabbage is a versatile cool-season crop that forms dense, leafy heads in green, red, or savoy varieties. It is a staple for coleslaw, sauerkraut, and many global cuisines.

Brassica oleracea var. capitata · Vegetable · Brassicaceae family · 60–100 days to maturity

Get Your Personalized Cabbage Planting Dates

Enter your ZIP code to see exact planting dates, soil compatibility, and growing tips specific to your county.

Where Can You Grow Cabbage?

Zone Compatibility for Cabbage Zones 1a – 10b

1a 1b 2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b 11a 11b 12a 12b 13a 13b

Ideal (data available) Suitable Marginal Not recommended

Planting Dates by Zone

Zone	Start Indoors	Direct Sow	Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	May 4	Jun 8	Jun 15	Aug 17 – Oct 12
Zone 1b	Apr 26	May 31	Jun 7	Aug 9 – Oct 4
Zone 2a	Apr 18	May 23	May 30	Aug 1 – Sep 26
Zone 2b	Apr 10	May 15	May 22	Jul 24 – Sep 18
Zone 3a	Apr 3	May 8	May 15	Jul 17 – Sep 11
Zone 3b	Mar 29	May 3	May 10	Jul 12 – Sep 6
Zone 4a	Mar 25	Apr 29	May 6	Jul 8 – Sep 2
Zone 4b	Mar 20	Apr 24	May 1	Jul 3 – Aug 28
Zone 5a	Mar 21	Apr 11	Apr 25	Jun 27 – Aug 22
Zone 5b	Mar 14	Apr 4	Apr 18	Jun 20 – Aug 15
Zone 6a	Mar 6	Mar 27	Apr 10	Jun 12 – Aug 7
Zone 6b	Feb 27	Mar 20	Apr 3	Jun 5 – Jul 31
Zone 7a	Feb 18	Mar 11	Mar 25	May 27 – Jul 22
Zone 7b	Feb 11	Mar 4	Mar 18	May 20 – Jul 15
Zone 8a	Feb 1	Feb 22	Mar 8	May 10 – Jul 5
Zone 8b	Jan 21	Feb 11	Feb 25	Apr 29 – Jun 24
Zone 9a	Jan 13	Jan 20	Feb 10	Apr 14 – Jun 9
Zone 9b	Dec 28	Jan 4	Jan 25	Mar 29 – May 24
Zone 10a	Dec 4	Dec 11	Jan 1	Mar 5 – Apr 30
Zone 10b	Dec 4	Dec 11	Jan 1	Mar 5 – Apr 30

Why are some columns showing "—"?

Transplant shows "—" because Cabbage is best direct sown where it will grow. Transplanting can disturb the roots and slow growth.

How to Plant Cabbage

Planting Depth

15"

Between Plants

24"

Between Rows

🍂 Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.9"/week

Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Consistent moisture produces the best results.

🧪 Soil pH

6 – 7.5

Prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil — ideal for most garden beds.

🗺️ Hardiness Zones

Zone 1a – 10b

📅 Days to Maturity

60–100 days

Quick-growing crop. Multiple plantings per season are possible.

👪 Plant Family

Brassicaceae

Rotate with other families yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases. Don't plant in the same spot where Brassicaceae family crops grew last year.

Succession Planting Cabbage

Cabbage matures in just 60–100 days, making it ideal for succession planting. In a typical 180-day growing season, you can get up to 3 successive plantings by sowing every 6.9 weeks.

Your actual succession count depends on your local frost dates. Enter your ZIP code to get personalized succession planting dates for your area.

Companion Planting for Cabbage

✅ Good Companions

Celery Dill Onion Potatoes

❌ Keep Away From

Strawberries Tomatoes

Check more combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Growing Tips for Cabbage

Start seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost. Space plants 18-24 inches apart. Keep soil evenly moist to prevent heads from splitting.

💧 Watering: Cabbage needs approximately 0.9 inches of water per week during active growth. Adjust based on your local rainfall — check your county page for a monthly watering guide specific to your area.

Saving Cabbage Seeds

Recommended for Your Garden

🌱

Seed Starting Trays $8-20

Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.

🧪

Soil Test Kit $12-25

Test your soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before planting.

🏷️

Garden Plant Markers $6-12

Keep your garden organized with durable, weather-resistant plant labels.

Reader favourite

Seed Saving & Storage Guide

$27 $157 value

Most saved seeds go bad before next season. This shows exactly when to pick, how to dry, and where to store seeds from 200 plants so yours don't.

200 plants, step-by-step: life cycle, pollination type, isolation
Exact temperature + humidity ranges that keep seeds viable
Bonus: searchable Google Sheets tracker + custom GPT assistant

Save a lifetime of seed money →

Cabbage by State

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to grow Cabbage?

Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) takes 60 to 100 days from planting to harvest. Exact timing depends on your variety, growing conditions, and USDA zone.

What zones can Cabbage grow in?

Cabbage can be grown in USDA zones 1a through 10b. Use the planting calendar above to find the exact dates for your zone.

How much sun does Cabbage need?

Growing Cabbage requires Full Sun (6-8+ hours), Moderate — regular watering, and soil pH of 6 to 7.5.