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When to Plant Cabbage in Jasper County, MS

Jasper County, Mississippi Zone 8b May

May to-do list for Jasper County, Mississippi

If you only do a handful of things in the garden this May, make it these. They're sequenced around your zone's frost timing.

Avg. last frost March 15
Avg. first frost November 12
Soil temp (4") 73°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure High
Daylight 13.6 hrs
  1. Pick cabbage

    If you can't use it all right away, check the food-preservation section of your planner.

June will be here before you know it — start on
  • First harvests: cabbage

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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.

Jasper County, Mississippi is in USDA Zone 8b. The average last spring frost is March 15 and the first fall frost is November 12, giving you a growing season of approximately 242 days.

At an elevation of 468 feet, Jasper County receives approximately 53.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly clay loam soil. Summer highs average 94°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. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Cabbage root diseases.

Jasper County, MS (Zone 8b) Long season
242 days
Last Spring Frost March 15
242 growing days
First Fall Frost November 12

Jasper County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Clay Loam

Soil pH

5.5-6.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (122 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 30 Transplant: Mar 6 🍅 Harvest: May 8 – Jul 3
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (123 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 8 Transplant: Mar 15 🍅 Harvest: May 17 – Jul 12
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (117 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 Jasper County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.5–6.6) overlaps with Cabbage's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.8%). 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 242-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 04 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Sep 03.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.9″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/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" 5.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Apr 3.9" 4.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 3.9" 4.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 3.9" 4.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3.9" 4.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3.9" 5.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3.9" 3.7" 0.2" 💧 Light watering
Oct 3.9" 3.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 3.9" 3.7" 0.2" 💧 Light watering
Dec 5" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Mar–Nov in Jasper 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 ~1,640 GDD — county provides 4,961 GDD Excellent fit

Cabbage Planting Timeline — Jasper County, MS

Cabbage Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 8 Feb 8 – Feb 22
Transplant Outdoors March 15 Mar 15 – Mar 29
Direct Sow March 1 Mar 1 – Mar 22
Harvest May 17 May 17 – Jul 12
Fall Sowing September 3 Sep 3 – Sep 17

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February Start Indoors
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 · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

60–100 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 8b

📆 Growing Season

242 days in Jasper County

Growing Tips for Cabbage in Jasper County

Direct sow Cabbage outdoors after March 15 in Jasper County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

With Jasper County's clay soil (27% clay), work in 3-4 inches of compost before planting Cabbage. Avoid tilling when soil is wet to prevent compaction.

Summer highs in Jasper County reach 94°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 Jasper County, MS?

Jasper County is in Zone 8b with an average last frost of March 15. Plan your Cabbage planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Jasper County, MS?

Jasper County, Mississippi is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8b. The average last spring frost is March 15 and first fall frost is November 12.

🌱

Your Jasper County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Jasper County (Zone 8b). 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 Jasper 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.