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When to Plant Cabbage in Grady County, GA

Grady County, Georgia Zone 9a May

May in Grady County, Georgia — your action list

Each item below is timed to Grady County, Georgia's frost dates and soil temperatures. Skip nothing, stress about nothing.

Avg. last frost March 5
Avg. first frost November 21
Soil temp (4") 73°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure High
Daylight 13.6 hrs
  1. Harvest cabbage as they ripen

    If you can't use it all right away, check the food-preservation section of your planner.

Get ahead of June
  • First harvests: cabbage

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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.

Grady County, Georgia is in USDA Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is March 5 and the first fall frost is November 21, giving you a growing season of approximately 261 days.

At an elevation of 323 feet, Grady County receives approximately 48.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly clay loam soil. Summer highs average 91°F, providing good warmth for Cabbage during the growing season. Clay soil retains moisture well for Cabbage, but amend with compost to improve drainage and prevent root rot.

Grady County, GA (Zone 9a) Long season
261 days
Last Spring Frost March 5
261 growing days
First Fall Frost November 21

Grady County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Clay Loam

Soil pH

5.4-6.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (147 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 24 Transplant: Feb 21 🍅 Harvest: Apr 25 – Jun 20
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (142 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 5 Transplant: Mar 5 🍅 Harvest: May 7 – Jul 2
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (145 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 26 Transplant: Mar 26 🍅 Harvest: May 28 – Jul 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 Grady County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.4–6.5) is more acidic than Cabbage prefers (6.0–7.5). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

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

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Cabbage.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.2%). Annual compost additions will help Cabbage.

How to Plant 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 Cabbage

5
successive plantings in your 261-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 13 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Sep 26.

Plant Water Budget

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

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 3.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 4.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 3.9" 4.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Apr 3.9" 4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 3.9" 3.7" 0.2" 💧 Light watering
Jun 3.9" 4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3.9" 5.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3.9" 4.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3.9" 3.6" 0.3" 💧 Light watering
Oct 3.9" 2.8" 1.1" 💧 Light watering
Nov 3.9" 3.7" 0.2" 💧 Light watering
Dec 3.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Mar–Nov in Grady County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — 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" — 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.

Cabbage needs ~1,460 GDD — county provides 4,763 GDD Excellent fit

Cabbage Planting Timeline — Grady County, GA

Cabbage Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 5 Feb 5 – Feb 19
Transplant Outdoors March 5 Mar 5 – Mar 19
Direct Sow February 12 Feb 12 – Mar 5
Harvest May 7 May 7 – Jul 2
Fall Sowing September 26 Sep 26 – Oct 10

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

0.9"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

60–100 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: too_acidic

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 9a

📆 Growing Season

261 days in Grady County

Growing Tips for Cabbage in Grady County

Direct sow Cabbage outdoors after March 05 in Grady County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

With Grady County's clay soil (33% clay), work in 3-4 inches of compost before planting Cabbage. Avoid tilling when soil is wet to prevent compaction.

Summer highs in Grady County reach 91°F — 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 Grady County, GA?

Grady County is in Zone 9a with an average last frost of March 5. Plan your Cabbage planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Grady County, GA?

Grady County, Georgia is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is March 5 and first fall frost is November 21.

🌱

Your Grady County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Grady County (Zone 9a). 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 Grady County, GA. 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.