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When to Plant Cabbage in Tulsa County, OK

Tulsa County, Oklahoma Zone 7b May

Top priorities for Tulsa County, Oklahoma gardeners in May

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 April 7
Avg. first frost October 26
Soil temp (4") 69°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 13.9 hrs
  1. Indoor seed-starting week for cabbage

    You're about 25 weeks out from your last frost — the perfect window to get these germinating indoors.

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.

Tulsa County, Oklahoma is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 7 and the first fall frost is October 26, giving you a growing season of approximately 202 days.

At an elevation of 752 feet, Tulsa County receives approximately 28.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 90°F, providing good warmth for Cabbage during the growing season.

Tulsa County, OK (Zone 7b) Long season
202 days
Last Spring Frost April 7
202 growing days
First Fall Frost October 26

Tulsa County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.8-7.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (81 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 26 Transplant: Apr 2 🍅 Harvest: Jun 4 – Jul 30
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (83 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 3 Transplant: Apr 7 🍅 Harvest: Jun 9 – Aug 4
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (83 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 20 Transplant: Apr 24 🍅 Harvest: Jun 26 – Aug 21

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 Tulsa County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.8–7.1) is within Cabbage's preferred range (6.0–7.5).

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.6%). 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

3
successive plantings in your 202-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 18 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 17.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.9″/week
Rainfall provides
0.6″/week
You supply
0.3″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 545 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 0.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 3.9" 3.5" 0.4" 💧 Light watering
May 3.9" 4.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 3.9" 4.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3.9" 3.4" 0.5" 💧 Light watering
Aug 3.9" 3" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
Sep 3.9" 2.4" 1.5" 💧 Light watering
Oct 3.9" 1.9" 2" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 0.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Tulsa 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 ~1,400 GDD — county provides 3,535 GDD Excellent fit

Cabbage Planting Timeline — Tulsa County, OK

Cabbage Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 3 Mar 3 – Mar 17
Transplant Outdoors April 7 Apr 7 – Apr 21
Direct Sow March 24 Mar 24 – Apr 14
Harvest June 9 Jun 9 – Aug 4
Fall Sowing August 17 Aug 17 – Aug 31

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 Fall Sowing Harvest
September
October
November
December

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.9"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

60–100 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: ideal

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

📆 Growing Season

202 days in Tulsa County

Growing Tips for Cabbage in Tulsa County

Direct sow Cabbage outdoors after April 07 in Tulsa 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 Tulsa County, OK?

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

What planting zone is Tulsa County, OK?

Tulsa County, Oklahoma is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 7 and first fall frost is October 26.

🌱

Your Tulsa County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Tulsa 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 Tulsa 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.