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When to Plant Chinese Cabbage in Coal County, OK

Coal County, Oklahoma Zone 7b May

This month in Coal County, Oklahoma

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

Avg. last frost March 28
Avg. first frost November 2
Soil temp (4") 69°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 13.8 hrs
  1. Fire up the seed-starting tray: chinese cabbage

    Give them 6–8 weeks indoors before the last frost and you'll transplant into warm soil with seedlings that are already leaping.

  2. Harvest chinese cabbage as they ripen

    If you can't use it all right away, check the food-preservation section of your planner.

Before June arrives, get these ready
  • First harvests: chinese cabbage

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Chinese cabbage (Napa cabbage) forms elongated, barrel-shaped heads with tender, mild-flavored leaves. It is a staple in Asian cooking, particularly for kimchi.

Coal County, Oklahoma is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 28 and the first fall frost is November 2, giving you a growing season of approximately 219 days.

At an elevation of 892 feet, Coal County receives approximately 28.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 89°F, providing good warmth for Chinese Cabbage during the growing season.

Coal County, OK (Zone 7b) Long season
219 days
Last Spring Frost March 28
219 growing days
First Fall Frost November 2
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Coal County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-7.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (137 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 14 Transplant: Mar 21 🍅 Harvest: May 16 – Jun 13
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (135 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 21 Transplant: Mar 28 🍅 Harvest: May 23 – Jun 20
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (137 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 12 Transplant: Apr 16 🍅 Harvest: Jun 11 – Jul 9

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 Coal County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.5–7.2) is within Chinese Cabbage's preferred range (6.0–7.5).

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.0%) — Chinese Cabbage will thrive.

How to Plant Chinese 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 Chinese Cabbage

5
successive plantings in your 219-day season

Sow every 5.7 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 24 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 24.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.6″/week
You supply
1.1″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 2,230 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Monthly Watering Guide for Chinese Cabbage

Chinese 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 Chinese Cabbage Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 6.5" 1.6" 4.9" 🚿 Regular watering
Apr 6.5" 2.7" 3.8" 🚿 Regular watering
May 6.5" 4.2" 2.3" 💧 Light watering
Jun 6.5" 4.8" 1.7" 💧 Light watering
Jul 6.5" 3.7" 2.8" 💧 Light watering
Aug 6.5" 3.6" 2.9" 💧 Light watering
Sep 6.5" 2.8" 3.7" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 6.5" 1.9" 4.6" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 6.5" 1" 5.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Dec 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Chinese 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.

Chinese Cabbage needs ~1,005 GDD — county provides 3,668 GDD Excellent fit

Chinese Cabbage Planting Timeline — Coal County, OK

Chinese Cabbage Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 21 Feb 21 – Mar 7
Transplant Outdoors March 28 Mar 28 – Apr 11
Direct Sow March 14 Mar 14 – Apr 4
Harvest May 23 May 23 – Jun 20
Fall Sowing August 24 Aug 24 – Sep 7

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

50–70 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: ideal

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

📆 Growing Season

219 days in Coal County

Growing Tips for Chinese Cabbage in Coal County

Direct sow Chinese Cabbage outdoors after March 28 in Coal County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Chinese 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 to avoid bolting. Start seeds indoors or direct sow in late summer. Keep soil consistently moist and provide shade in warm weather.

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 Chinese Cabbage in Coal County, OK?

Coal County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of March 28. Plan your Chinese Cabbage planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Coal County, OK?

Coal County, Oklahoma is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 28 and first fall frost is November 2.

🌱

Your Coal County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Coal 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 Coal County, OK. 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.