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When to Plant Cabbage in Georgetown County, SC

Georgetown County, South Carolina Zone 8b May

Your May planting checklist for Georgetown County, South Carolina

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

Avg. last frost March 19
Avg. first frost November 15
Soil temp (4") 71°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure High
Daylight 13.7 hrs
  1. Pick cabbage

    Check every 1–2 days. Many of these get tough or go to seed if you wait too long.

Looking ahead to June
  • 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.

Georgetown County, South Carolina is in USDA Zone 8b. The average last spring frost is March 19 and the first fall frost is November 15, giving you a growing season of approximately 241 days.

At an elevation of 102 feet, Georgetown County receives approximately 52.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 94°F, providing good warmth for Cabbage during the growing season. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring — great for early planting — but Cabbage will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Cabbage root diseases.

Georgetown County, SC (Zone 8b) Long season
241 days
Last Spring Frost March 19
241 growing days
First Fall Frost November 15

Georgetown County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

4.8-6.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (126 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 31 Transplant: Mar 7 🍅 Harvest: May 9 – Jul 4
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (122 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 12 Transplant: Mar 19 🍅 Harvest: May 21 – Jul 16
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (117 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 3 Transplant: Apr 7 🍅 Harvest: Jun 9 – Aug 4

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 Georgetown County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (4.8–6.2) is more acidic than Cabbage prefers (6.0–7.5). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

Sandy soil in Georgetown County warms quickly in spring but drains fast. Cabbage will need more frequent watering and regular compost additions to retain nutrients.

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Cabbage.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.1%). 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 241-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 07 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Sep 06.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.9″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 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 3.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 4.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 3.9" 5.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Apr 3.9" 4.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 3.9" 3.7" 0.2" 💧 Light watering
Jun 3.9" 5.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3.9" 4.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3.9" 4.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3.9" 3.8" 0.1" 💧 Light watering
Oct 3.9" 3.4" 0.5" 💧 Light watering
Nov 3.9" 4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Dec 4.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Mar–Nov in Georgetown 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 ~1,640 GDD — county provides 4,940 GDD Excellent fit

Cabbage Planting Timeline — Georgetown County, SC

Cabbage Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 12 Feb 12 – Feb 26
Transplant Outdoors March 19 Mar 19 – Apr 2
Direct Sow March 5 Mar 5 – Mar 26
Harvest May 21 May 21 – Jul 16
Fall Sowing September 6 Sep 6 – Sep 20

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.9"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

60–100 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: too_acidic

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 8b

📆 Growing Season

241 days in Georgetown County

Growing Tips for Cabbage in Georgetown County

Direct sow Cabbage outdoors after March 19 in Georgetown County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in Georgetown County dries quickly — mulch Cabbage with 2-3 inches of straw and water deeply 2-3 times per week rather than lightly every day.

Summer highs in Georgetown County reach 94°F — grow Cabbage as a spring or fall crop. Use shade cloth if planting in summer.

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 Georgetown County, SC?

Georgetown County is in Zone 8b with an average last frost of March 19. Plan your Cabbage planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Georgetown County, SC?

Georgetown County, South Carolina is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8b. The average last spring frost is March 19 and first fall frost is November 15.

🌱

Your Georgetown County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Georgetown County (Zone 8b). 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 Georgetown County, SC. 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.