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When to Plant Savoy Cabbage in Bingham County, ID

Bingham County, Idaho Zone 5b May

May to-do list for Bingham County, Idaho

A quick May briefing for Bingham County, Idaho gardeners — what's urgent, what's next, and what can wait.

Avg. last frost May 21
Avg. first frost September 21
Soil temp (4") 31°F
Watering High
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.5 hrs
  1. Plant out savoy cabbage

    Plant tomatoes deep — bury the stem up to the first true leaves to grow extra roots. Everything else goes in at the same depth it grew in the tray.

  2. Sow savoy cabbage where they'll grow

    These tolerate cool soil, so you're not gambling by sowing now.

June prep starts now
  • Starting indoors: 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.

Bingham County, Idaho is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 21 and the first fall frost is September 21, giving you a growing season of approximately 123 days.

At an elevation of 8,345 feet, Bingham County receives approximately 24.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 86°F, providing good warmth for Savoy Cabbage during the growing season.

Bingham County, ID (Zone 5b) Short season
123 days
Last Spring Frost May 21
123 growing days
First Fall Frost September 21

Bingham County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.3-7.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 5 Transplant: May 10 🍅 Harvest: Jul 19 – Sep 13
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 16 Transplant: May 21 🍅 Harvest: Jul 30 – Sep 24
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: May 12 Transplant: Jun 16 🍅 Harvest: Aug 25 – Oct 20

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 Bingham County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.3–7.7) overlaps with Savoy Cabbage's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.6%). Annual compost additions will help Savoy Cabbage.

How to Plant Savoy Cabbage

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

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

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
You supply
0.2″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 215 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 — 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 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 4.3" 2.5" 1.8" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 1.5" 2.8" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 2.3" 2" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.3" 2.5" 1.8" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2.3" 2" 💧 Light watering
Oct 2.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 1.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Bingham 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 ~1,305 GDD — county provides 1,783 GDD Excellent fit

Savoy Cabbage Planting Timeline — Bingham County, ID

Savoy Cabbage Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 16 Apr 16 – Apr 30
Transplant Outdoors May 21 May 21 – Jun 4
Direct Sow May 7 May 7 – May 28
Harvest July 30 Jul 30 – Sep 24
Fall Sowing July 13 Jul 13 – Jul 27

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · Only during dry spells

📅 Days to Maturity

70–110 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 5b

📆 Growing Season

123 days in Bingham County

Growing Tips for Savoy Cabbage in Bingham County

Direct sow Savoy Cabbage outdoors after May 21 in Bingham County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your 123.0-day growing season in Bingham County is tight for Savoy Cabbage (70.0-110.0 days to maturity). Start indoors and choose early-maturing varieties.

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.

Bingham County receives only 24" of rain annually. Savoy Cabbage needs consistent moisture — install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

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 Bingham County, ID?

Bingham County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of May 21. Plan your Savoy Cabbage planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Bingham County, ID?

Bingham County, Idaho is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 21 and first fall frost is September 21.

🌱

Your Bingham County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Bingham County (Zone 5b). 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 Bingham County, ID. 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.