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When to Plant Cabbage in Coke County, TX

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.

Coke County, Texas is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 24 and the first fall frost is November 12, giving you a growing season of approximately 233 days.

At an elevation of 3,031 feet, Coke County receives approximately 52.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 96ยฐF, so Cabbage may need afternoon shade and extra watering during peak heat. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring โ€” great for early planting โ€” but Cabbage will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Cabbage root diseases.

Coke County, TX (Zone 7b) Long season
233 days
Last Spring Frost March 24
233 growing days
First Fall Frost November 12

Coke County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

7.5-8.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (113 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 9 Transplant: Mar 16 🍅 Harvest: May 18 – Jul 13
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (114 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 17 Transplant: Mar 24 🍅 Harvest: May 26 – Jul 21
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (107 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 10 Transplant: Apr 14 🍅 Harvest: Jun 16 – Aug 11

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Coke County

How your county's soil matches Cabbage's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (7.5โ€“8.6) is more alkaline than Cabbage prefers (6.0โ€“7.5). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

Sandy soil in Coke County warms quickly in spring but drains fast. Cabbage will need more frequent watering and regular compost additions to retain nutrients.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is low (1.0%). Add 2-3 inches of compost before planting Cabbage.

How to Plant Cabbage

1"
Planting Depth
15"
Between Plants
24"
Between Rows

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

Succession Planting Cabbage

4
successive plantings in your 233-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 04 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Sep 03.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.9″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Cabbage

Cabbage needs approximately 0.9 inches of water per week (3.9" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Cabbage Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 3.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 3.4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar 3.9" 3.2" 0.7" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Apr 3.9" 1.7" 2.2" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
May 3.9" 1.1" 2.8" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jun 3.9" 1.9" 2" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jul 3.9" 8.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3.9" 11.8" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3.9" 6.7" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 3.9" 4.1" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Nov 3.9" 2.7" 1.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Dec โ€” 3.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

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

Cabbage Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" โ€” every day above 50ยฐF deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Cabbage needs ~1,760 GDD — county provides 5,126 GDD Excellent fit

Cabbage Planting Timeline โ€” Coke County, TX

Cabbage Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 17 Feb 17 โ€“ Mar 3
Transplant Outdoors March 24 Mar 24 โ€“ Apr 7
Direct Sow March 10 Mar 10 โ€“ Mar 31
Harvest May 26 May 26 โ€“ Jul 21
Fall Sowing September 3 Sep 3 โ€“ Sep 17

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

0.9"/week ยท Natural rainfall sufficient

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

60โ€“100 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7.5 ยท Your soil: too_alkaline

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

233 days in Coke County

Growing Tips for Cabbage in Coke County

Direct sow Cabbage outdoors after March 24 in Coke County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in Coke County dries quickly โ€” mulch Cabbage with 2-3 inches of straw and water deeply 2-3 times per week rather than lightly every day.

Summer highs in Coke County reach 96ยฐF โ€” grow Cabbage as a spring or fall crop. Use shade cloth if planting in summer.

Common pests for Cabbage in this region include cabbage worm and flea beetles. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

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 Coke County, TX?

Coke County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of March 24. Plan your Cabbage planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Coke County, TX?

Coke County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 24 and first fall frost is November 12.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Coke County gardeners in Zone 7b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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