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When to Plant Cabbage in Morgan County, TN

Morgan County, Tennessee Zone 7a May

This month in Morgan County, Tennessee

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

Avg. last frost April 9
Avg. first frost October 28
Soil temp (4") 70°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 13.9 hrs
  1. Sow cabbage in trays indoors

    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.

Morgan County, Tennessee is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 9 and the first fall frost is October 28, giving you a growing season of approximately 202 days.

At an elevation of 1,116 feet, Morgan County receives approximately 41.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 90°F, providing good warmth for Cabbage during the growing season.

Morgan County, TN (Zone 7a) Long season
202 days
Last Spring Frost April 9
202 growing days
First Fall Frost October 28
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Morgan County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.3-7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (81 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 27 Transplant: Apr 3 🍅 Harvest: Jun 5 – Jul 31
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (83 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 5 Transplant: Apr 9 🍅 Harvest: Jun 11 – Aug 6
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (75 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 25 Transplant: Apr 29 🍅 Harvest: Jul 1 – Aug 26

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 Morgan County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.3–7.0) overlaps with Cabbage's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.8%). 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 20 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 19.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.9″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/week
You supply
0.1″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 94 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

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 3.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 2.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 3.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 3.9" 3.2" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
May 3.9" 3.7" 0.2" 💧 Light watering
Jun 3.9" 3.2" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
Jul 3.9" 4.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3.9" 4.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3.9" 3.4" 0.5" 💧 Light watering
Oct 3.9" 3" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
Nov 3.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 2.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Morgan 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 — Morgan County, TN

Cabbage Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 5 Mar 5 – Mar 19
Transplant Outdoors April 9 Apr 9 – Apr 23
Direct Sow March 26 Mar 26 – Apr 16
Harvest June 11 Jun 11 – Aug 6
Fall Sowing August 19 Aug 19 – Sep 2

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 Fall Sowing
October
November
December
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Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.9"/week · Only during dry spells

📅 Days to Maturity

60–100 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

📆 Growing Season

202 days in Morgan County

Growing Tips for Cabbage in Morgan County

Direct sow Cabbage outdoors after April 09 in Morgan 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 Morgan County, TN?

Morgan County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 9. Plan your Cabbage planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Morgan County, TN?

Morgan County, Tennessee is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 9 and first fall frost is October 28.

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Your Morgan County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Morgan County (Zone 7a). 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 Morgan 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.