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When to Plant Cabbage in Eastland County, TX

Eastland County, Texas Zone 8a May

Top priorities for Eastland County, Texas gardeners in May

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

Avg. last frost April 1
Avg. first frost November 10
Soil temp (4") 62°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 13.7 hrs
  1. Indoor seed-starting week for cabbage

    Bottom-water once the first true leaves appear — it keeps stems dry and knocks back damping-off.

Get ahead of 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.

Eastland County, Texas is in USDA Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is April 1 and the first fall frost is November 10, giving you a growing season of approximately 223 days.

At an elevation of 2,811 feet, Eastland County receives approximately 63.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 90°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.

Eastland County, TX (Zone 8a) Long season
223 days
Last Spring Frost April 1
223 growing days
First Fall Frost November 10

Eastland 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 (105 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 13 Transplant: Mar 20 🍅 Harvest: May 22 – Jul 17
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (104 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 25 Transplant: Apr 1 🍅 Harvest: Jun 3 – Jul 29
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (103 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 12 Transplant: Apr 16 🍅 Harvest: Jun 18 – Aug 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 Eastland County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.6–7.4) is within Cabbage's preferred range (6.0–7.5).

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.4%). 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 223-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 02 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Sep 01.

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
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 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 2.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 3.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 3.9" 7.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 3.9" 9.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 3.9" 10.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3.9" 7.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3.9" 7.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3.9" 6.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 3.9" 4.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 3.9" 2.3" 1.6" 💧 Light watering
Dec 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Nov in Eastland 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 3,902 GDD Excellent fit

Cabbage Planting Timeline — Eastland County, TX

Cabbage Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 25 Feb 25 – Mar 11
Transplant Outdoors April 1 Apr 1 – Apr 15
Direct Sow March 18 Mar 18 – Apr 8
Harvest June 3 Jun 3 – Jul 29
Fall Sowing September 1 Sep 1 – Sep 15

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February Start Indoors
March Start Indoors Direct Sow
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May
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: ideal

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 8a

📆 Growing Season

223 days in Eastland County

Growing Tips for Cabbage in Eastland County

Direct sow Cabbage outdoors after April 01 in Eastland 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 Eastland County, TX?

Eastland County is in Zone 8a with an average last frost of April 1. Plan your Cabbage planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Eastland County, TX?

Eastland County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is April 1 and first fall frost is November 10.

🌱

Your Eastland County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Eastland County (Zone 8a). 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 Eastland County, TX. 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.