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When to Plant Savoy Cabbage in Amador County, CA

Amador County, California Zone 9b May

Your May planting checklist for Amador County, California

We've pulled the most time-sensitive tasks for Amador County, California this May and put them front and centre. Tackle them in order.

Avg. last frost March 8
Avg. first frost November 25
Soil temp (4") 69°F
Watering Critical
Pest pressure High
Daylight 14.1 hrs
  1. Start harvesting savoy cabbage

    Don't tug. Use scissors or pruners for clean cuts — torn stems invite disease.

Before June arrives, get these ready
  • First harvests: savoy cabbage

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Savoy cabbage has crinkled, deeply veined leaves that form looser heads than regular cabbage. It has a milder, sweeter flavor and is more cold-tolerant.

Amador County, California is in USDA Zone 9b. The average last spring frost is March 8 and the first fall frost is November 25, giving you a growing season of approximately 262 days.

At an elevation of 1,335 feet, Amador County receives approximately 42.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 89°F, providing good warmth for Savoy Cabbage during the growing season.

Amador County, CA (Zone 9b) Long season
262 days
Last Spring Frost March 8
262 growing days
First Fall Frost November 25

Amador County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.7-7.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (151 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 8 Transplant: Feb 5 🍅 Harvest: Apr 16 – Jun 11
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (136 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 8 Transplant: Mar 8 🍅 Harvest: May 17 – Jul 12
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (118 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 22 Transplant: Apr 19 🍅 Harvest: Jun 28 – Aug 23

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 Amador County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.7–7.8) overlaps with Savoy Cabbage's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Amador County is excellent for Savoy Cabbage — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.7%). Annual compost additions will help Savoy Cabbage.

How to Plant Savoy Cabbage

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

Fall planting: Sow 8 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Savoy Cabbage

4
successive plantings in your 262-day season

Sow every 8 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 07 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Sep 30.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/week
You supply
0.4″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 883 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Savoy Cabbage

Savoy 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 Savoy Cabbage Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 9.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 4.3" 6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Apr 4.3" 3.5" 0.8" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 1" 3.3" 🚿 Regular watering
Jun 4.3" 0.2" 4.1" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 0" 4.3" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 4.3" 0" 4.3" 🚿 Regular watering
Sep 4.3" 0.5" 3.8" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 4.3" 1.9" 2.4" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 4.3" 4.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Dec 7.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Mar–Nov in Amador County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Savoy 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" — every day above 50°F 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.

Savoy Cabbage needs ~1,508 GDD — county provides 4,388 GDD Excellent fit

Savoy Cabbage Planting Timeline — Amador County, CA

Savoy Cabbage Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 8 Feb 8 – Feb 22
Transplant Outdoors March 8 Mar 8 – Mar 22
Direct Sow February 15 Feb 15 – Mar 8
Harvest May 17 May 17 – Jul 12
Fall Sowing September 30 Sep 30 – Oct 14

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

70–110 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 9b

📆 Growing Season

262 days in Amador County

Growing Tips for Savoy Cabbage in Amador County

Direct sow Savoy Cabbage outdoors after March 08 in Amador County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Savoy 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. Savoy cabbage is more forgiving of temperature fluctuations than smooth-leaved types. Excellent for stuffed cabbage rolls.

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 Savoy Cabbage in Amador County, CA?

Amador County is in Zone 9b with an average last frost of March 8. Plan your Savoy Cabbage planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Amador County, CA?

Amador County, California is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9b. The average last spring frost is March 8 and first fall frost is November 25.

🌱

Your Amador County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Amador County (Zone 9b). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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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 Amador County, CA. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: May 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.