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When to Plant Savoy Cabbage in Sheridan County, ND

Sheridan County, North Dakota Zone 4a May

May to-do list for Sheridan County, North Dakota

Your garden in Sheridan County, North Dakota is working on a schedule, even when you're not. Here's where you should be this May.

Avg. last frost May 12
Avg. first frost October 1
Soil temp (4") 49°F
Watering High
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.9 hrs
  1. Move savoy cabbage into the garden

    Your last frost (May 12) has passed. These warm-season crops can handle outdoor soil now.

  2. Scatter savoy cabbage into prepared beds

    Sow every 2 weeks for a continuous harvest. A single big planting means a single big glut.

Coming up in June — start thinking about
  • Starting indoors: savoy cabbage

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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.

Sheridan County, North Dakota is in USDA Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 12 and the first fall frost is October 1, giving you a growing season of approximately 142 days.

At an elevation of 1,070 feet, Sheridan County receives approximately 24.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 81°F, so choose short-season varieties of Savoy Cabbage to ensure they mature before fall.

Sheridan County, ND (Zone 4a) Short season
142 days
Last Spring Frost May 12
142 growing days
First Fall Frost October 1

Sheridan County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.4-7.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (15 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 23 Transplant: May 4 🍅 Harvest: Jul 13 – Sep 7
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (16 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 31 Transplant: May 12 🍅 Harvest: Jul 21 – Sep 15
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (19 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 8 Transplant: May 20 🍅 Harvest: Jul 29 – Sep 23

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 Sheridan County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.4–7.5) is within Savoy Cabbage's preferred range (6.0–7.5).

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.5%). Annual compost additions will help Savoy Cabbage.

How to Plant Savoy Cabbage

1"
Planting Depth
15"
Between Plants
24"
Between Rows

Fall planting: Sow 12 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Savoy Cabbage

2
successive plantings in your 142-day season

Sow every 8 weeks. Last sowing by Jun 13 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 09.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/week
You supply
0.3″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 436 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

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 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 4.3" 2.7" 1.6" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 1.7" 2.6" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 2.4" 1.9" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.3" 2.2" 2.1" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 1.9" 2.4" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 4.3" 2.1" 2.2" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 1.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Oct in Sheridan 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 ~968 GDD — county provides 1,526 GDD Excellent fit

Savoy Cabbage Planting Timeline — Sheridan County, ND

Savoy Cabbage Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 31 Mar 31 – Apr 14
Transplant Outdoors May 12 May 12 – May 26
Direct Sow May 5 May 5 – May 26
Harvest July 21 Jul 21 – Sep 15
Fall Sowing July 9 Jul 9 – Jul 23

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

70–110 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: ideal

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 4a

📆 Growing Season

142 days in Sheridan County

Growing Tips for Savoy Cabbage in Sheridan County

Direct sow Savoy Cabbage outdoors after May 12 in Sheridan 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.

Sheridan County receives only 24" of rain annually. Savoy Cabbage needs consistent moisture — install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

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 Sheridan County, ND?

Sheridan County is in Zone 4a with an average last frost of May 12. Plan your Savoy Cabbage planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Sheridan County, ND?

Sheridan County, North Dakota is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 12 and first fall frost is October 1.

🌱

Your Sheridan County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Sheridan County (Zone 4a). 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 Sheridan County, ND. 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.