Chinese Cabbage Planting Guide
Chinese cabbage (Napa cabbage) forms elongated, barrel-shaped heads with tender, mild-flavored leaves. It is a staple in Asian cooking, particularly for kimchi.
Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis · Vegetable · Brassicaceae family · 50–70 days to maturity
Get Your Personalized Chinese 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 Chinese Cabbage?
Chinese Cabbage Growing Regions
Click any state to see the Chinese Cabbage planting schedule for that location.
Planting Dates by Zone
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Transplant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 2a | Apr 18 | May 23 | May 30 | Jul 25 – Aug 22 |
| Zone 2b | Apr 10 | May 15 | May 22 | Jul 17 – Aug 14 |
| Zone 3a | Apr 3 | May 8 | May 15 | Jul 10 – Aug 7 |
| Zone 3b | Mar 29 | May 3 | May 10 | Jul 5 – Aug 2 |
| Zone 4a | Mar 25 | Apr 29 | May 6 | Jul 1 – Jul 29 |
| Zone 4b | Mar 20 | Apr 24 | May 1 | Jun 26 – Jul 24 |
| Zone 5a | Mar 21 | Apr 11 | Apr 25 | Jun 20 – Jul 18 |
| Zone 5b | Mar 14 | Apr 4 | Apr 18 | Jun 13 – Jul 11 |
| Zone 6a | Mar 6 | Mar 27 | Apr 10 | Jun 5 – Jul 3 |
| Zone 6b | Feb 27 | Mar 20 | Apr 3 | May 29 – Jun 26 |
| Zone 7a | Feb 18 | Mar 11 | Mar 25 | May 20 – Jun 17 |
| Zone 7b | Feb 11 | Mar 4 | Mar 18 | May 13 – Jun 10 |
| Zone 8a | Feb 1 | Feb 22 | Mar 8 | May 3 – May 31 |
| Zone 8b | Jan 21 | Feb 11 | Feb 25 | Apr 22 – May 20 |
| Zone 9a | Jan 13 | Jan 20 | Feb 10 | Apr 7 – May 5 |
| Zone 9b | Dec 28 | Jan 4 | Jan 25 | Mar 22 – Apr 19 |
| Zone 10a | Dec 4 | Dec 11 | Jan 1 | Feb 26 – Mar 26 |
| Zone 10b | Dec 4 | Dec 11 | Jan 1 | Feb 26 – Mar 26 |
| Zone 11a | Dec 4 | Dec 11 | Jan 1 | Feb 26 – Mar 26 |
| Zone 11b | Dec 4 | Dec 11 | Jan 1 | Feb 26 – Mar 26 |
Why are some columns showing "—"?
Transplant shows "—" because Chinese Cabbage is best direct sown where it will grow. Transplanting can disturb the roots and slow growth.
How to Plant Chinese Cabbage
🍂 Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.
Growing Conditions
☀️ Sun
Partial Shade (3-6 hours)
💧 Water
High — keep soil consistently moist
Keep soil consistently moist. Mulch heavily to retain moisture.
🧪 Soil pH
6 – 7.5
Prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil — ideal for most garden beds.
🗺️ Hardiness Zones
Zone 2a – 11b
📅 Days to Maturity
50–70 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 Chinese Cabbage
Chinese Cabbage matures in just 50–70 days, making it ideal for succession planting. In a typical 180-day growing season, you can get up to 4 successive plantings by sowing every 5.7 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 Chinese Cabbage
✅ Good Companions
❌ Keep Away From
Check more combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →
Growing Tips for Chinese Cabbage
Best grown as a fall crop to avoid bolting. Start seeds indoors or direct sow in late summer. Keep soil consistently moist and provide shade in warm weather.
Saving Chinese Cabbage Seeds
Recommended for Your Garden
Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.
Test your soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before planting.
Keep your garden organized with durable, weather-resistant plant labels.
Level Up Your Garden
Chinese Cabbage by State
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to grow Chinese Cabbage?
Chinese Cabbage (Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis) takes 50 to 70 days from planting to harvest. Exact timing depends on your variety, growing conditions, and USDA zone.
What zones can Chinese Cabbage grow in?
Chinese Cabbage can be grown in USDA zones 2a through 11b. Use the planting calendar above to find the exact dates for your zone.
How much sun does Chinese Cabbage need?
Growing Chinese Cabbage requires Partial Shade (3-6 hours), High — keep soil consistently moist, and soil pH of 6 to 7.5.