Blog

When to Plant Cabbage in Grenada County, MS

Grenada County, Mississippi Zone 8a May

May in Grenada County, Mississippi — your action list

Welcome to May in Zone 8a. These are the moves that will have the biggest impact on your growing season.

Avg. last frost March 30
Avg. first frost October 31
Soil temp (4") 68°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 13.8 hrs
  1. Begin indoor sowing: cabbage

    You're about 25 weeks out from your last frost — the perfect window to get these germinating indoors.

A few tasks this May that'll pay off in June
  • 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.

Grenada County, Mississippi is in USDA Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 30 and the first fall frost is October 31, giving you a growing season of approximately 215 days.

At an elevation of 101 feet, Grenada County receives approximately 49.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly clay loam soil. Summer highs average 90°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.

Grenada County, MS (Zone 8a) Long season
215 days
Last Spring Frost March 30
215 growing days
First Fall Frost October 31

Grenada County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Clay Loam

Soil pH

5.6-6.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (100 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 15 Transplant: Mar 22 🍅 Harvest: May 24 – Jul 19
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (96 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 23 Transplant: Mar 30 🍅 Harvest: Jun 1 – Jul 27
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (102 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 12 Transplant: Apr 16 🍅 Harvest: Jun 18 – Aug 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 Grenada County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.6–6.4) overlaps with Cabbage's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The clay loam soil in Grenada County 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

4
successive plantings in your 215-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 23 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 22.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.9″/week
Rainfall provides
1.0″/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 4.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 3.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 3.9" 4.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Apr 3.9" 3.7" 0.2" 💧 Light watering
May 3.9" 3.8" 0.1" 💧 Light watering
Jun 3.9" 4.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3.9" 5.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3.9" 4.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3.9" 3.5" 0.4" 💧 Light watering
Oct 3.9" 3.3" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
Nov 3.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 3.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Mar–Oct in Grenada 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 ~1,400 GDD — county provides 3,762 GDD Excellent fit

Cabbage Planting Timeline — Grenada County, MS

Cabbage Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 23 Feb 23 – Mar 9
Transplant Outdoors March 30 Mar 30 – Apr 13
Direct Sow March 16 Mar 16 – Apr 6
Harvest June 1 Jun 1 – Jul 27
Fall Sowing August 22 Aug 22 – Sep 5

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 8a

📆 Growing Season

215 days in Grenada County

Growing Tips for Cabbage in Grenada County

Direct sow Cabbage outdoors after March 30 in Grenada County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

With Grenada County's clay soil (28% clay), work in 3-4 inches of compost before planting Cabbage. Avoid tilling when soil is wet to prevent compaction.

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 Grenada County, MS?

Grenada County is in Zone 8a with an average last frost of March 30. Plan your Cabbage planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Grenada County, MS?

Grenada County, Mississippi is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 30 and first fall frost is October 31.

🌱

Your Grenada County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Grenada County (Zone 8a). 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 Grenada County, MS. 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.