Blog

When to Plant Savoy Cabbage in Caldwell County, MO

Caldwell County, Missouri Zone 5b April

Your April gardening checklist

Each item below is timed to Caldwell County, Missouri's frost dates and soil temperatures. Skip nothing, stress about nothing.

Avg. last frost April 13
Avg. first frost October 22
Soil temp (4") 43°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 13.1 hrs
  1. Time to transplant savoy cabbage

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

Looking ahead to May
  • Starting indoors: savoy cabbage

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

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.

Caldwell County, Missouri is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 13 and the first fall frost is October 22, giving you a growing season of approximately 192 days.

At an elevation of 1,389 feet, Caldwell County receives approximately 34 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 84°F, so choose short-season varieties of Savoy Cabbage to ensure they mature before fall.

Caldwell County, MO (Zone 5b) Moderate season
192 days
Last Spring Frost April 13
192 growing days
First Fall Frost October 22

Caldwell County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.6-7.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (62 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 5 Transplant: Apr 9 🍅 Harvest: Jun 18 – Aug 13
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (66 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 9 Transplant: Apr 13 🍅 Harvest: Jun 22 – Aug 17
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (60 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 26 Transplant: Apr 30 🍅 Harvest: Jul 9 – Sep 3

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 Caldwell County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.6–7.1) overlaps with Savoy Cabbage's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.6%). 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

3
successive plantings in your 192-day season

Sow every 8 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 04 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 13.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/week
You supply
0.3″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 438 gal / 100 sq ft

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 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 3.2" 1.1" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 3.6" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 4.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 3.9" 0.4" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.3" 3.3" 1" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 3.2" 1.1" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 2.5" 1.8" 💧 Light watering
Nov 2.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Caldwell 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 ~1,170 GDD — county provides 2,496 GDD Excellent fit

Savoy Cabbage Planting Timeline — Caldwell County, MO

Savoy Cabbage Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 9 Mar 9 – Mar 23
Transplant Outdoors April 13 Apr 13 – Apr 27
Direct Sow March 30 Mar 30 – Apr 20
Harvest June 22 Jun 22 – Aug 17
Fall Sowing August 13 Aug 13 – Aug 27

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March Start Indoors Direct Sow
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May
June Harvest
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 5b

📆 Growing Season

192 days in Caldwell County

Growing Tips for Savoy Cabbage in Caldwell County

Direct sow Savoy Cabbage outdoors after April 13 in Caldwell 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 Caldwell County, MO?

Caldwell County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of April 13. Plan your Savoy Cabbage planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Caldwell County, MO?

Caldwell County, Missouri is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 13 and first fall frost is October 22.

🌱

Your Caldwell County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Caldwell 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.

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 Caldwell County, MO. 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.