Blog

When to Plant Cabbage in Winn Parish, LA

Winn Parish, Louisiana Zone 8b April

Winn Parish, Louisiana gardeners: here's your April plan

Each item below is timed to Winn Parish, Louisiana's frost dates and soil temperatures. Skip nothing, stress about nothing.

Avg. last frost March 8
Avg. first frost November 15
Soil temp (4") 62°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure High
Daylight 12.8 hrs
  1. Start cabbage under lights

    A seed-starting mix and a sunny window (or a grow light) are all you need. Keep soil warm — around 70°F — for fast germination.

Get ahead of May
  • First harvests: cabbage

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

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.

Winn Parish, Louisiana is in USDA Zone 8b. The average last spring frost is March 8 and the first fall frost is November 15, giving you a growing season of approximately 252 days.

At an elevation of 271 feet, Winn Parish receives approximately 48.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 91°F, providing good warmth for Cabbage during the growing season.

Winn Parish, LA (Zone 8b) Long season
252 days
Last Spring Frost March 8
252 growing days
First Fall Frost November 15

Winn Parish Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6-6.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (134 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 24 Transplant: Feb 28 🍅 Harvest: May 2 – Jun 27
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (133 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 1 Transplant: Mar 8 🍅 Harvest: May 10 – Jul 5
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (131 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 3 Transplant: Apr 7 🍅 Harvest: Jun 9 – Aug 4

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 Winn Parish

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.0–6.7) is within Cabbage's preferred range (6.0–7.5).

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Winn Parish is excellent for Cabbage — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.5%). Annual compost additions will help Cabbage.

How to Plant 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 Cabbage

5
successive plantings in your 252-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 07 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Sep 06.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.9″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
You supply
0.1″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 260 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

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 4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 3.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 3.9" 4.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Apr 3.9" 3.5" 0.4" 💧 Light watering
May 3.9" 3.7" 0.2" 💧 Light watering
Jun 3.9" 4.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3.9" 4.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3.9" 4.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3.9" 3.5" 0.4" 💧 Light watering
Oct 3.9" 3.3" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
Nov 3.9" 4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Dec 3.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Mar–Nov in Winn Parish). 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 4,599 GDD Excellent fit

Cabbage Planting Timeline — Winn Parish, LA

Cabbage Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 1 Feb 1 – Feb 15
Transplant Outdoors March 8 Mar 8 – Mar 22
Direct Sow February 22 Feb 22 – Mar 15
Harvest May 10 May 10 – Jul 5
Fall Sowing September 6 Sep 6 – Sep 20

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
November
December

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.9"/week · Only during dry spells

📅 Days to Maturity

60–100 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: ideal

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 8b

📆 Growing Season

252 days in Winn Parish

Growing Tips for Cabbage in Winn Parish

Direct sow Cabbage outdoors after March 08 in Winn Parish when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Summer highs in Winn Parish 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 Winn Parish, LA?

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

What planting zone is Winn Parish, LA?

Winn Parish, Louisiana is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8b. The average last spring frost is March 8 and first fall frost is November 15.

🌱

Your Winn Parish Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Winn Parish (Zone 8b). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Winn Parish, LA. 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.