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When to Plant Chinese Cabbage in Goliad County, TX

Goliad County, Texas Zone 9b May

May to-do list for Goliad County, Texas

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

Avg. last frost February 24
Avg. first frost December 4
Soil temp (4") 68°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure High
Daylight 13.4 hrs
  1. Harvest chinese cabbage as they ripen

    If you can't use it all right away, check the food-preservation section of your planner.

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Chinese cabbage (Napa cabbage) forms elongated, barrel-shaped heads with tender, mild-flavored leaves. It is a staple in Asian cooking, particularly for kimchi.

Goliad County, Texas is in USDA Zone 9b. The average last spring frost is February 24 and the first fall frost is December 4, giving you a growing season of approximately 283 days.

At an elevation of 3,928 feet, Goliad County receives approximately 62.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 95°F, so Chinese Cabbage may need afternoon shade and extra watering during peak heat. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Chinese Cabbage root diseases.

Goliad County, TX (Zone 9b) Year-round
283 days
Last Spring Frost February 24
283 growing days
First Fall Frost December 4

Goliad County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.3-7.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (200 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 15 Transplant: Feb 12 🍅 Harvest: Apr 9 – May 7
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (199 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 27 Transplant: Feb 24 🍅 Harvest: Apr 21 – May 19
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (199 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 13 Transplant: Mar 13 🍅 Harvest: May 8 – Jun 5

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 Goliad County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.3–7.3) is within Chinese Cabbage's preferred range (6.0–7.5).

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.3%). Annual compost additions will help Chinese Cabbage.

How to Plant Chinese Cabbage

1"
Planting Depth
15"
Between Plants
24"
Between Rows

Fall planting: Sow 8 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Chinese Cabbage

6
successive plantings in your 283-day season

Sow every 5.7 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 25 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Oct 09.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/week
You supply
0.7″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 1,742 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Monthly Watering Guide for Chinese Cabbage

Chinese 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 Chinese Cabbage Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 6.5" 2.2" 4.3" 🚿 Regular watering
Mar 6.5" 3.5" 3" 💧 Light watering
Apr 6.5" 6.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 6.5" 9.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 6.5" 10.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 6.5" 8.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 6.5" 7.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 6.5" 5.3" 1.2" 💧 Light watering
Oct 6.5" 3.6" 2.9" 💧 Light watering
Nov 6.5" 2.1" 4.4" 🚿 Regular watering
Dec 6.5" 1.6" 4.9" 🚿 Regular watering

Water needs are for active growing months only (Feb–Dec in Goliad County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Chinese 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.

Chinese Cabbage needs ~1,275 GDD — county provides 6,035 GDD Excellent fit

Chinese Cabbage Planting Timeline — Goliad County, TX

Chinese Cabbage Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors January 27 Jan 27 – Feb 10
Transplant Outdoors February 24 Feb 24 – Mar 10
Direct Sow February 3 Feb 3 – Feb 24
Harvest April 21 Apr 21 – May 19
Fall Sowing October 9 Oct 9 – Oct 23

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

1.5"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

50–70 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: ideal

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 9b

📆 Growing Season

283 days in Goliad County

Growing Tips for Chinese Cabbage in Goliad County

Direct sow Chinese Cabbage outdoors after February 24 in Goliad County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Chinese 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 to avoid bolting. Start seeds indoors or direct sow in late summer. Keep soil consistently moist and provide shade in warm weather.

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 Chinese Cabbage in Goliad County, TX?

Goliad County is in Zone 9b with an average last frost of February 24. Plan your Chinese Cabbage planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Goliad County, TX?

Goliad County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9b. The average last spring frost is February 24 and first fall frost is December 4.

🌱

Your Goliad County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Goliad County (Zone 9b). 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 Goliad 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.