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When to Plant Cabbage in Camden County, NJ

Camden County, New Jersey Zone 7b May

This month in Camden County, New Jersey

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

Avg. last frost April 5
Avg. first frost November 12
Soil temp (4") 69°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 14.2 hrs
  1. Fire up the seed-starting tray: cabbage

    Starting these indoors now means sturdy transplants ready the moment your soil warms up.

Before June arrives, get these ready
  • 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.

Camden County, New Jersey is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 5 and the first fall frost is November 12, giving you a growing season of approximately 221 days.

At an elevation of 561 feet, Camden County receives approximately 43.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 89°F, providing good warmth for Cabbage during the growing season.

Camden County, NJ (Zone 7b) Long season
221 days
Last Spring Frost April 5
221 growing days
First Fall Frost November 12

Camden County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5-6.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (103 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 17 Transplant: Mar 24 🍅 Harvest: May 26 – Jul 21
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (102 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 1 Transplant: Apr 5 🍅 Harvest: Jun 7 – Aug 2
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (102 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 24 Transplant: Apr 28 🍅 Harvest: Jun 30 – Aug 25

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 Camden County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.0–6.4) is more acidic than Cabbage prefers (6.0–7.5). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.0%). 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 221-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
0.8″/week
You supply
0.1″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 137 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 3.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 2.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 3.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 3.9" 3.6" 0.3" 💧 Light watering
May 3.9" 4.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 3.9" 3.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3.9" 4.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3.9" 4.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3.9" 4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 3.9" 3.4" 0.5" 💧 Light watering
Nov 3.9" 3.3" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
Dec 3.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Nov in Camden 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 ~1,340 GDD — county provides 3,701 GDD Excellent fit

Cabbage Planting Timeline — Camden County, NJ

Cabbage Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 1 Mar 1 – Mar 15
Transplant Outdoors April 5 Apr 5 – Apr 19
Direct Sow March 22 Mar 22 – Apr 12
Harvest June 7 Jun 7 – Aug 2
Fall Sowing September 3 Sep 3 – Sep 17

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 Harvest
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: too_acidic

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

📆 Growing Season

221 days in Camden County

Growing Tips for Cabbage in Camden County

Direct sow Cabbage outdoors after April 05 in Camden County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

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 Camden County, NJ?

Camden County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of April 5. Plan your Cabbage planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Camden County, NJ?

Camden County, New Jersey is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 5 and first fall frost is November 12.

🌱

Your Camden County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Camden 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 Camden County, NJ. 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.