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When to Plant Savoy Cabbage in Lane County, KS

Lane County, Kansas Zone 6a May

May to-do list for Lane County, Kansas

Welcome to May in Zone 6a. These are the moves that will have the biggest impact on your growing season.

Avg. last frost April 25
Avg. first frost October 15
Soil temp (4") 64°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.1 hrs
  1. Indoor seed-starting week for savoy cabbage

    These need a head start before your last frost (April 25). Sow into cells now so you're ready to transplant in a few weeks.

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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.

Lane County, Kansas is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 25 and the first fall frost is October 15, giving you a growing season of approximately 173 days.

At an elevation of 1,086 feet, Lane County receives approximately 34.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 90°F, providing good warmth for Savoy Cabbage during the growing season.

Lane County, KS (Zone 6a) Moderate season
173 days
Last Spring Frost April 25
173 growing days
First Fall Frost October 15

Lane County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-7.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (48 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 14 Transplant: Apr 18 🍅 Harvest: Jun 27 – Aug 22
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (47 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 21 Transplant: Apr 25 🍅 Harvest: Jul 4 – Aug 29
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (41 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 7 Transplant: May 12 🍅 Harvest: Jul 21 – Sep 15

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 Lane County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.5–7.7) overlaps with Savoy Cabbage's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (4.0%). 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.

Succession Planting Savoy Cabbage

2
successive plantings in your 173-day season

Sow every 8 weeks. Last sowing by Jun 27 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 06.

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 314 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 2.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 3.9" 0.4" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 4.2" 0.1" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 2.5" 1.8" 💧 Light watering
Jul 4.3" 3.3" 1" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.3" 3.8" 0.5" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2.5" 1.8" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 2.9" 1.4" 💧 Light watering
Nov 2.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 2.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Lane 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 ~1,575 GDD — county provides 3,027 GDD Excellent fit

Savoy Cabbage Planting Timeline — Lane County, KS

Savoy Cabbage Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 21 Mar 21 – Apr 4
Transplant Outdoors April 25 Apr 25 – May 9
Direct Sow April 11 Apr 11 – May 2
Harvest July 4 Jul 4 – Aug 29
Fall Sowing August 6 Aug 6 – Aug 20

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: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

📆 Growing Season

173 days in Lane County

Growing Tips for Savoy Cabbage in Lane County

Direct sow Savoy Cabbage outdoors after April 25 in Lane 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 Lane County, KS?

Lane County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 25. Plan your Savoy Cabbage planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Lane County, KS?

Lane County, Kansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 25 and first fall frost is October 15.

🌱

Your Lane County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Lane County (Zone 6a). 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 Lane County, KS. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: May 2026.

Sources & credits

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