Blog

When to Plant Napa Cabbage in Concho County, TX

Napa cabbage forms tall, barrel-shaped heads with tender, crinkled leaves and a mild, slightly sweet flavor. It is the primary cabbage used for kimchi.

Concho County, Texas is in USDA Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 25 and the first fall frost is November 12, giving you a growing season of approximately 232 days.

At an elevation of 3,848 feet, Concho County receives approximately 58.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 93ยฐF, providing good warmth for Napa Cabbage during the growing season. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Napa Cabbage root diseases.

Concho County, TX (Zone 8a) Long season
232 days
Last Spring Frost March 25
232 growing days
First Fall Frost November 12

Concho County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.6-7.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (148 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 5 Transplant: Mar 12 🍅 Harvest: May 7 – Jun 11
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (141 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 18 Transplant: Mar 25 🍅 Harvest: May 20 – Jun 24
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (141 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 9 Transplant: Apr 13 🍅 Harvest: Jun 8 – Jul 13

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 Concho County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.6โ€“7.4) is within Napa Cabbage's preferred range (6.0โ€“7.5).

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.0%). Annual compost additions will help Napa Cabbage.

How to Plant Napa 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 Napa Cabbage

5
successive plantings in your 232-day season

Sow every 6.3 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 29 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Sep 03.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.5″/week
Rainfall provides
1.1″/week
You supply
0.5″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 1,106 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Napa Cabbage

Napa Cabbage needs approximately 1.5 inches of water per week (6.5" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Napa Cabbage Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 1.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 2.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar 6.5" 3.4" 3.1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Apr 6.5" 6.8" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
May 6.5" 8.9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 6.5" 9.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 6.5" 6.8" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 6.5" 6.5" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 6.5" 5.4" 1.1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct 6.5" 3.6" 2.9" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov 6.5" 2.2" 4.3" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Dec โ€” 1.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Marโ€“Nov in Concho County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Napa 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.

Napa Cabbage needs ~1,284 GDD — county provides 4,582 GDD Excellent fit

Napa Cabbage Planting Timeline โ€” Concho County, TX

Napa Cabbage Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 18 Feb 18 โ€“ Mar 4
Transplant Outdoors March 25 Mar 25 โ€“ Apr 8
Direct Sow March 11 Mar 11 โ€“ Apr 1
Harvest May 20 May 20 โ€“ Jun 24
Fall Sowing September 3 Sep 3 โ€“ Sep 17

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

1.5"/week ยท 1-2 times/week

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

55โ€“75 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7.5 ยท Your soil: ideal

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 8a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

232 days in Concho County

Growing Tips for Napa Cabbage in Concho County

Direct sow Napa Cabbage outdoors after March 25 in Concho County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Napa Cabbage in this region include cabbage worm and flea beetles. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Best grown as a fall crop. Direct sow in late summer, 60-70 days before first frost. Keep soil evenly moist. Bolt-resistant varieties are available for spring planting.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Strawberries

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Napa Cabbage in Concho County, TX?

Concho County is in Zone 8a with an average last frost of March 25. Plan your Napa Cabbage planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Concho County, TX?

Concho County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 25 and first fall frost is November 12.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Concho County gardeners in Zone 8a 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 Concho County, TX. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.