Blog

When to Plant Cabbage in Russell County, KS

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.

Russell County, Kansas is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 23 and the first fall frost is October 16, giving you a growing season of approximately 176 days.

At an elevation of 984 feet, Russell County receives approximately 33.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 87ยฐF, providing good warmth for Cabbage during the growing season.

Russell County, KS (Zone 6a) Moderate season
176 days
Last Spring Frost April 23
176 growing days
First Fall Frost October 16

Russell County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.8-7.4

Drainage

Well Drained

How Much Cabbage to Grow

2-4 lbs
Average yield per plant
3
Plants per person
6 sq ft
Space per person

For a family of 4, plant approximately 12 cabbage plants in about 24 sq ft. In Russell County's 176-day season, you'll have plenty of time for a full harvest. Plan your garden layout →

Monthly Watering Guide for Cabbage

Cabbage needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Cabbage Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 0.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 2.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 3.2" 1.1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 4.3" 5.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.3" 5.8" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 4.1" 0.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Aug 4.3" 3.8" 0.5" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2.9" 1.4" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct 4.3" 2" 2.3" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Nov โ€” 1.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 0.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Aprโ€“Oct in Russell County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Cabbage Planting Timeline โ€” Russell County, KS

Cabbage Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 19 Mar 19 โ€“ Apr 2
Transplant Outdoors April 23 Apr 23 โ€“ May 7
Direct Sow April 9 Apr 9 โ€“ Apr 30
Harvest June 25 Jun 25 โ€“ Aug 20
Fall Sowing August 7 Aug 7 โ€“ Aug 21

Plant 1" deep ยท 15" apart ยท Rows 24" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March Start Indoors
April Start Indoors Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May Transplant Outdoors
June Harvest
July Harvest
August Fall Sowing Harvest
September โ€”
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

60โ€“100 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7.5 ยท Your soil: N/A

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

176 days in Russell County

Growing Tips for Russell County

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

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Strawberries
  • Tomatoes

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Cabbage in Russell County, KS?

Russell County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 23. Plan your Cabbage planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Russell County, KS?

Russell County, Kansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 23 and first fall frost is October 16.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Russell County gardeners in Zone 6a organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

Free download. Plan your entire garden season in minutes.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Russell County, KS. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.