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When to Plant Cabbage in Maury County, TN

Maury County, Tennessee Zone 7b May

May in the garden — Maury County, Tennessee

Here's what deserves your attention in Maury County, Tennessee this month. Everything below is tailored to Zone 7b and timed around your local frost dates.

Avg. last frost April 10
Avg. first frost October 24
Soil temp (4") 59°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 13.9 hrs
  1. Sow cabbage in trays indoors

    Starting these indoors now means sturdy transplants ready the moment your soil warms up.

Coming up in June — start thinking about
  • 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.

Maury County, Tennessee is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 10 and the first fall frost is October 24, giving you a growing season of approximately 197 days.

At an elevation of 3,417 feet, Maury County receives approximately 54.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 88°F, providing good warmth for Cabbage during the growing season. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Cabbage root diseases.

Maury County, TN (Zone 7b) Moderate season
197 days
Last Spring Frost April 10
197 growing days
First Fall Frost October 24

Maury County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.5-6.9

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (79 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 28 Transplant: Apr 4 🍅 Harvest: Jun 6 – Aug 1
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (78 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 6 Transplant: Apr 10 🍅 Harvest: Jun 12 – Aug 7
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (77 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 19 Transplant: Apr 23 🍅 Harvest: Jun 25 – Aug 20

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 Maury County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.5–6.9) overlaps with Cabbage's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.6%). 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 197-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 16 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 15.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.9″/week
Rainfall provides
1.2″/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 4.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 4.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 5.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 3.9" 4.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 3.9" 4.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 3.9" 4.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3.9" 5.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3.9" 5.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3.9" 4.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 3.9" 3.8" 0.1" 💧 Light watering
Nov 4.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 4.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Maury 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 ~1,280 GDD — county provides 3,152 GDD Excellent fit

Cabbage Planting Timeline — Maury County, TN

Cabbage Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 6 Mar 6 – Mar 20
Transplant Outdoors April 10 Apr 10 – Apr 24
Direct Sow March 27 Mar 27 – Apr 17
Harvest June 12 Jun 12 – Aug 7
Fall Sowing August 15 Aug 15 – Aug 29

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 · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

60–100 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

📆 Growing Season

197 days in Maury County

Growing Tips for Cabbage in Maury County

Direct sow Cabbage outdoors after April 10 in Maury 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 Maury County, TN?

Maury County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of April 10. Plan your Cabbage planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Maury County, TN?

Maury County, Tennessee is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 10 and first fall frost is October 24.

🌱

Your Maury County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Maury 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 Maury County, TN. 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.