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When to Plant Cabbage in Sabine 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.

Sabine County, Texas is in USDA Zone 8b. The average last spring frost is March 12 and the first fall frost is November 15, giving you a growing season of approximately 248 days.

At an elevation of 265 feet, Sabine County receives approximately 63.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 93ยฐF, providing good warmth for Cabbage during the growing season. 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.

Sabine County, TX (Zone 8b) Long season
248 days
Last Spring Frost March 12
248 growing days
First Fall Frost November 15

Sabine County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

5.6-6.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (129 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 28 Transplant: Mar 4 🍅 Harvest: May 6 – Jul 1
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (129 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 5 Transplant: Mar 12 🍅 Harvest: May 14 – Jul 9
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (119 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 3 Transplant: Apr 7 🍅 Harvest: Jun 9 – Aug 4

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 Sabine County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.6โ€“6.5) overlaps with Cabbage's range (6.0โ€“7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Cabbage.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is low (1.8%). 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 248-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 07 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Sep 06.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.9″/week
Rainfall provides
1.1″/week
You supply
0.1″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 255 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 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€” 1.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 2.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar 3.9" 4.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Apr 3.9" 5.9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
May 3.9" 9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 3.9" 9.7" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3.9" 9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3.9" 8.1" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3.9" 6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 3.9" 3.6" 0.3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov 3.9" 2.4" 1.5" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Dec โ€” 1.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Marโ€“Nov in Sabine 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 ~1,580 GDD — county provides 4,898 GDD Excellent fit

Cabbage Planting Timeline โ€” Sabine County, TX

Cabbage Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 5 Feb 5 โ€“ Feb 19
Transplant Outdoors March 12 Mar 12 โ€“ Mar 26
Direct Sow February 26 Feb 26 โ€“ Mar 19
Harvest May 14 May 14 โ€“ Jul 9
Fall Sowing September 6 Sep 6 โ€“ Sep 20

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February Start Indoors Direct Sow
March Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
April โ€”
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 Only during dry spells

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

60โ€“100 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7.5 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 8b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

248 days in Sabine County

Growing Tips for Cabbage in Sabine County

Direct sow Cabbage outdoors after March 12 in Sabine County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in Sabine 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 Sabine County reach 93ยฐF 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 Sabine County, TX?

Sabine County is in Zone 8b with an average last frost of March 12. Plan your Cabbage planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Sabine County, TX?

Sabine County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8b. The average last spring frost is March 12 and first fall frost is November 15.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Sabine County gardeners in Zone 8b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

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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 Sabine County, TX. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.