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When to Plant Cabbage in Baylor County, TX

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.

Baylor County, Texas is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 21 and the first fall frost is November 15, giving you a growing season of approximately 239 days.

At an elevation of 2,365 feet, Baylor County receives approximately 56.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 92ยฐF, providing good warmth for Cabbage during the growing season. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Cabbage root diseases.

Baylor County, TX (Zone 7b) Long season
239 days
Last Spring Frost March 21
239 growing days
First Fall Frost November 15

Baylor County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.6-7.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (116 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 7 Transplant: Mar 14 🍅 Harvest: May 16 – Jul 11
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (120 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 14 Transplant: Mar 21 🍅 Harvest: May 23 – Jul 18
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (108 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 9 Transplant: Apr 13 🍅 Harvest: Jun 15 – Aug 10

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 Baylor County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.6โ€“7.2) is within Cabbage's preferred range (6.0โ€“7.5).

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Baylor County is excellent for Cabbage โ€” good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.2%). 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 239-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
1.0″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 โ€” 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 โ€” 1.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 1.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar 3.9" 3.3" 0.6" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Apr 3.9" 6.5" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
May 3.9" 8.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 3.9" 7.9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3.9" 6.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3.9" 7.5" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3.9" 5.8" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 3.9" 3.6" 0.3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov 3.9" 2.1" 1.8" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Dec โ€” 1.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Marโ€“Nov in Baylor County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” 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" โ€” every day above 50ยฐF 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 ~1,520 GDD — county provides 4,541 GDD Excellent fit

Cabbage Planting Timeline โ€” Baylor County, TX

Cabbage Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 14 Feb 14 โ€“ Feb 28
Transplant Outdoors March 21 Mar 21 โ€“ Apr 4
Direct Sow March 7 Mar 7 โ€“ Mar 28
Harvest May 23 May 23 โ€“ Jul 18
Fall Sowing September 6 Sep 6 โ€“ Sep 20

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

0.9"/week ยท Natural rainfall sufficient

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

60โ€“100 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7.5 ยท Your soil: ideal

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

239 days in Baylor County

Growing Tips for Cabbage in Baylor County

Direct sow Cabbage outdoors after March 21 in Baylor County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Summer highs in Baylor County reach 92ยฐF โ€” 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 Baylor County, TX?

Baylor County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of March 21. Plan your Cabbage planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Baylor County, TX?

Baylor County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 21 and first fall frost is November 15.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Baylor County gardeners in Zone 7b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

Free download. Plan your entire garden season in minutes.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Baylor County, TX. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.