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When to Plant Cabbage in Lipscomb 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.

Lipscomb County, Texas is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 17 and the first fall frost is October 19, giving you a growing season of approximately 185 days.

At an elevation of 4,634 feet, Lipscomb County receives approximately 48.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 94ยฐF, providing good warmth for Cabbage during the growing season. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring โ€” great for early planting โ€” but Cabbage will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients.

Lipscomb County, TX (Zone 6b) Moderate season
185 days
Last Spring Frost April 17
185 growing days
First Fall Frost October 19

Lipscomb County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

7.7-8.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (64 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 9 Transplant: Apr 13 🍅 Harvest: Jun 15 – Aug 10
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (66 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 13 Transplant: Apr 17 🍅 Harvest: Jun 19 – Aug 14
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (68 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 27 Transplant: May 1 🍅 Harvest: Jul 3 – Aug 28

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 Lipscomb County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (7.7โ€“8.8) is more alkaline than Cabbage prefers (6.0โ€“7.5). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

Sandy soil in Lipscomb County warms quickly in spring but drains fast. Cabbage will need more frequent watering and regular compost additions to retain nutrients.

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Cabbage.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is low (1.0%). Add 2-3 inches of compost before planting 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 185-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 11 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 10.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.9″/week
Rainfall provides
1.1″/week
You supply
0.1″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 127 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 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€” 3.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 2.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 2.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 3.9" 1.5" 2.4" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
May 3.9" 1" 2.9" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jun 3.9" 1.9" 2" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jul 3.9" 7.9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3.9" 9.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3.9" 6.9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 3.9" 4.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Nov โ€” 3.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 3.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Aprโ€“Oct in Lipscomb 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 ~1,640 GDD — county provides 3,792 GDD Excellent fit

Cabbage Planting Timeline โ€” Lipscomb County, TX

Cabbage Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 13 Mar 13 โ€“ Mar 27
Transplant Outdoors April 17 Apr 17 โ€“ May 1
Direct Sow April 3 Apr 3 โ€“ Apr 24
Harvest June 19 Jun 19 โ€“ Aug 14
Fall Sowing August 10 Aug 10 โ€“ Aug 24

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

0.9"/week ยท Only during dry spells

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

60โ€“100 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7.5 ยท Your soil: too_alkaline

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

185 days in Lipscomb County

Growing Tips for Cabbage in Lipscomb County

Direct sow Cabbage outdoors after April 17 in Lipscomb County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in Lipscomb County dries quickly โ€” mulch Cabbage with 2-3 inches of straw and water deeply 2-3 times per week rather than lightly every day.

Summer highs in Lipscomb County reach 94ยฐF 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 Lipscomb County, TX?

Lipscomb County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of April 17. Plan your Cabbage planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Lipscomb County, TX?

Lipscomb County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 17 and first fall frost is October 19.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Lipscomb County gardeners in Zone 6b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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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 Lipscomb County, TX. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.