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When to Plant Savoy Cabbage in Miami County, IN

Miami County, Indiana Zone 5b April

Your April game plan for Miami County, Indiana

Here's what deserves your attention in Miami County, Indiana this month. Everything below is tailored to Zone 5b and timed around your local frost dates.

Avg. last frost April 24
Avg. first frost October 17
Soil temp (4") 45°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 13.1 hrs
  1. Plant out savoy cabbage

    Frost risk is low now in Miami County, Indiana. If you've been covering beds overnight, you can stop.

  2. Sow savoy cabbage where they'll grow

    Keep the top inch of soil moist until germination — a gentle morning watering for 5–7 days does the job.

Get ahead of May
  • 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.

Miami County, Indiana is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 24 and the first fall frost is October 17, giving you a growing season of approximately 176 days.

At an elevation of 786 feet, Miami County receives approximately 33.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 83°F, so choose short-season varieties of Savoy Cabbage to ensure they mature before fall.

Miami County, IN (Zone 5b) Moderate season
176 days
Last Spring Frost April 24
176 growing days
First Fall Frost October 17

Miami County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6-7.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (54 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 12 Transplant: Apr 16 🍅 Harvest: Jun 25 – Aug 20
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (50 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 20 Transplant: Apr 24 🍅 Harvest: Jul 3 – Aug 28
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (45 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 5 Transplant: May 10 🍅 Harvest: Jul 19 – Sep 13

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 Miami County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.0–7.3) is within Savoy Cabbage's preferred range (6.0–7.5).

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.4%) — Savoy Cabbage will thrive.

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.

Succession Planting Savoy Cabbage

2
successive plantings in your 176-day season

Sow every 8 weeks. Last sowing by Jun 29 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 08.

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 364 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 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 3.2" 1.1" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 3.7" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 3.7" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
Jul 4.3" 3.7" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.3" 3.7" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 3.4" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 2.4" 1.9" 💧 Light watering
Nov 2.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Miami 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 ~1,102 GDD — county provides 2,156 GDD Excellent fit

Savoy Cabbage Planting Timeline — Miami County, IN

Savoy Cabbage Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 20 Mar 20 – Apr 3
Transplant Outdoors April 24 Apr 24 – May 8
Direct Sow April 10 Apr 10 – May 1
Harvest July 3 Jul 3 – Aug 28
Fall Sowing August 8 Aug 8 – Aug 22

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March Start Indoors
April Start Indoors Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June
July Harvest
August Fall Sowing Harvest
September
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: ideal

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 5b

📆 Growing Season

176 days in Miami County

Growing Tips for Savoy Cabbage in Miami County

Direct sow Savoy Cabbage outdoors after April 24 in Miami 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 Miami County, IN?

Miami County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of April 24. Plan your Savoy Cabbage planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Miami County, IN?

Miami County, Indiana is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 24 and first fall frost is October 17.

🌱

Your Miami County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Miami 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 Miami County, IN. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.

Sources & credits

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