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When to Plant Cabbage in Bronx County, NY

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.

Bronx County, New York is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is March 29 and the first fall frost is November 12, giving you a growing season of approximately 228 days.

At an elevation of 53 feet, Bronx County receives approximately 44.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 88ยฐF, providing good warmth for Cabbage during the growing season.

Bronx County, NY (Zone 7a) Long season
228 days
Last Spring Frost March 29
228 growing days
First Fall Frost November 12

Bronx County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.2-6.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (109 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 18 Transplant: Mar 25 🍅 Harvest: May 27 – Jul 22
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (109 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 22 Transplant: Mar 29 🍅 Harvest: May 31 – Jul 26
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (118 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 5 Transplant: Apr 9 🍅 Harvest: Jun 11 – Aug 6

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 Bronx County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.2โ€“6.4) is more acidic than Cabbage prefers (6.0โ€“7.5). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Bronx County is excellent for Cabbage โ€” good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.9%). 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 228-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 170 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 โ€” 3.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 3.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar 3.9" 3.7" 0.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Apr 3.9" 3.6" 0.3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 3.9" 3.9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 3.9" 4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3.9" 4.2" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3.9" 4.2" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3.9" 3.9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 3.9" 3.7" 0.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov 3.9" 3.2" 0.7" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Dec โ€” 3.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Marโ€“Nov in Bronx County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” 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" โ€” every day above 50ยฐF 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 ~1,280 GDD — county provides 3,648 GDD Excellent fit

Cabbage Planting Timeline โ€” Bronx County, NY

Cabbage Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 22 Feb 22 โ€“ Mar 8
Transplant Outdoors March 29 Mar 29 โ€“ Apr 12
Direct Sow March 15 Mar 15 โ€“ Apr 5
Harvest May 31 May 31 โ€“ Jul 26
Fall Sowing September 3 Sep 3 โ€“ Sep 17

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February Start Indoors
March Start Indoors Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May Harvest
June Harvest
July Harvest
August โ€”
September Fall Sowing
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

0.9"/week ยท Only during dry spells

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

60โ€“100 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7.5 ยท Your soil: too_acidic

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

228 days in Bronx County

Growing Tips for Cabbage in Bronx County

Direct sow Cabbage outdoors after March 29 in Bronx 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 Bronx County, NY?

Bronx County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of March 29. Plan your Cabbage planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Bronx County, NY?

Bronx County, New York is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is March 29 and first fall frost is November 12.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Bronx County gardeners in Zone 7a organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

Free download. Plan your entire garden season in minutes.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Bronx County, NY. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.