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When to Plant Napa Cabbage in Pemiscot County, MO

Pemiscot County, Missouri Zone 7b May

May in Pemiscot County, Missouri — your action list

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 30
Avg. first frost October 31
Soil temp (4") 69°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 13.9 hrs
  1. Start napa cabbage indoors

    Bottom-water once the first true leaves appear — it keeps stems dry and knocks back damping-off.

  2. It's harvest week for napa cabbage

    Check every 1–2 days. Many of these get tough or go to seed if you wait too long.

To set up a strong June, finish these tasks
  • First harvests: napa cabbage

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Napa cabbage forms tall, barrel-shaped heads with tender, crinkled leaves and a mild, slightly sweet flavor. It is the primary cabbage used for kimchi.

Pemiscot County, Missouri is in USDA Zone 7b. 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 553 feet, Pemiscot County receives approximately 38.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 94°F, providing good warmth for Napa Cabbage during the growing season.

Pemiscot County, MO (Zone 7b) Long season
215 days
Last Spring Frost March 30
215 growing days
First Fall Frost October 31
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Pemiscot County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.3-6.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (126 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 15 Transplant: Mar 22 🍅 Harvest: May 17 – Jun 21
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (124 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 23 Transplant: Mar 30 🍅 Harvest: May 25 – Jun 29
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (129 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 12 Transplant: Apr 16 🍅 Harvest: Jun 11 – Jul 16

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 Pemiscot County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.3–6.7) overlaps with Napa Cabbage's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.1%). Annual compost additions will help Napa Cabbage.

How to Plant Napa 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 Napa Cabbage

4
successive plantings in your 215-day season

Sow every 6.3 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 17 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 22.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
You supply
0.8″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 1,435 gal / 100 sq ft

Monthly Watering Guide for Napa Cabbage

Napa Cabbage needs approximately 1.5 inches of water per week (6.5" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Napa Cabbage Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 6.5" 2.7" 3.8" 🚿 Regular watering
Apr 6.5" 3.5" 3" 💧 Light watering
May 6.5" 4.9" 1.6" 💧 Light watering
Jun 6.5" 4.7" 1.8" 💧 Light watering
Jul 6.5" 3.8" 2.7" 💧 Light watering
Aug 6.5" 4.7" 1.8" 💧 Light watering
Sep 6.5" 3.1" 3.4" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 6.5" 2.7" 3.8" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 2.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 2.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Mar–Oct in Pemiscot County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Napa 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.

Napa Cabbage needs ~1,332 GDD — county provides 4,407 GDD Excellent fit

Napa Cabbage Planting Timeline — Pemiscot County, MO

Napa 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 May 25 May 25 – Jun 29
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 Harvest
June Harvest
July
August Fall Sowing
September Fall Sowing
October
November
December
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Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

1.5"/week · 2-3 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

55–75 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

📆 Growing Season

215 days in Pemiscot County

Growing Tips for Napa Cabbage in Pemiscot County

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

Common pests for Napa Cabbage in this region include cabbage worm and flea beetles. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Best grown as a fall crop. Direct sow in late summer, 60-70 days before first frost. Keep soil evenly moist. Bolt-resistant varieties are available for spring planting.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Strawberries

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Napa Cabbage in Pemiscot County, MO?

Pemiscot County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of March 30. Plan your Napa Cabbage planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Pemiscot County, MO?

Pemiscot County, Missouri is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 30 and first fall frost is October 31.

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Your Pemiscot County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Pemiscot County (Zone 7b). 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 Pemiscot County, MO. 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.