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When to Plant Savoy Cabbage in Jackson County, OR

Jackson County, Oregon Zone 8a May

Top priorities for Jackson County, Oregon gardeners in May

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

Avg. last frost May 7
Avg. first frost October 10
Soil temp (4") 71°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure High
Daylight 14.4 hrs
  1. Harden off and plant savoy cabbage

    Water the tray well an hour before you transplant. Roots slide out cleanly and settle in faster.

Looking ahead to June
  • 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.

Jackson County, Oregon is in USDA Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is May 7 and the first fall frost is October 10, giving you a growing season of approximately 156 days.

At an elevation of 422 feet, Jackson County receives approximately 46 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 88°F, providing good warmth for Savoy Cabbage during the growing season.

Jackson County, OR (Zone 8a) Moderate season
156 days
Last Spring Frost May 7
156 growing days
First Fall Frost October 10
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Jackson County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.3-6.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (33 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 22 Transplant: Apr 26 🍅 Harvest: Jul 5 – Aug 30
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (30 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 2 Transplant: May 7 🍅 Harvest: Jul 16 – Sep 10
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (34 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 28 Transplant: Jun 2 🍅 Harvest: Aug 11 – Oct 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 Jackson County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.3–6.4) is more acidic than Savoy Cabbage prefers (6.0–7.5). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

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

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Savoy Cabbage.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (5.0%) — Savoy Cabbage will thrive.

How to Plant Savoy 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 Savoy Cabbage

2
successive plantings in your 156-day season

Sow every 8 weeks. Last sowing by Jun 22 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 01.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
1.2″/week
You supply
0.1″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 85 gal / 100 sq ft

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 6.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 5.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 5.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 4.3" 2.8" 1.5" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 1.7" 2.6" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 0.7" 3.6" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 4.3" 1" 3.3" 🚿 Regular watering
Sep 4.3" 1.8" 2.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 4.3" 3.5" 0.8" 💧 Light watering
Nov 6.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 8.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Oct in Jackson 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 ~1,440 GDD — county provides 2,496 GDD Excellent fit

Savoy Cabbage Planting Timeline — Jackson County, OR

Savoy Cabbage Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 2 Apr 2 – Apr 16
Transplant Outdoors May 7 May 7 – May 21
Direct Sow April 23 Apr 23 – May 14
Harvest July 16 Jul 16 – Sep 10
Fall Sowing August 1 Aug 1 – Aug 15

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · Only during dry spells

📅 Days to Maturity

70–110 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: too_acidic

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 8a

📆 Growing Season

156 days in Jackson County

Growing Tips for Savoy Cabbage in Jackson County

Direct sow Savoy Cabbage outdoors after May 07 in Jackson 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.

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 Jackson County, OR?

Jackson County is in Zone 8a with an average last frost of May 7. Plan your Savoy Cabbage planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Jackson County, OR?

Jackson County, Oregon is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is May 7 and first fall frost is October 10.

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Your Jackson County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Jackson County (Zone 8a). 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 Jackson County, OR. 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.