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When to Plant Chinese Cabbage in Young County, TX

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

Young County, Texas is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 25 and the first fall frost is November 10, giving you a growing season of approximately 230 days.

At an elevation of 2,616 feet, Young County receives approximately 65.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 92ยฐF, providing good warmth for Chinese Cabbage during the growing season. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Chinese Cabbage root diseases.

Young County, TX (Zone 7b) Long season
230 days
Last Spring Frost March 25
230 growing days
First Fall Frost November 10

Young County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.2-7.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (144 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 12 Transplant: Mar 19 🍅 Harvest: May 14 – Jun 11
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (146 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 18 Transplant: Mar 25 🍅 Harvest: May 20 – Jun 17
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (135 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 14 Transplant: Apr 18 🍅 Harvest: Jun 13 – Jul 11

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 Young County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.2โ€“7.4) is within Chinese Cabbage's preferred range (6.0โ€“7.5).

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Young County is excellent for Chinese Cabbage โ€” 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 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Chinese Cabbage

5
successive plantings in your 230-day season

Sow every 5.7 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 01 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Sep 01.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.5″/week
Rainfall provides
1.2″/week
You supply
0.4″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 751 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 โ€” 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 โ€” 1.4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 2.4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar 6.5" 4.7" 1.8" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Apr 6.5" 7.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
May 6.5" 10.5" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 6.5" 9.9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 6.5" 7" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 6.5" 7.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 6.5" 6.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 6.5" 3.7" 2.8" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov 6.5" 2.3" 4.2" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Dec โ€” 1.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Marโ€“Nov in Young County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” 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" 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.

Chinese Cabbage needs ~1,140 GDD — county provides 4,370 GDD Excellent fit

Chinese Cabbage Planting Timeline โ€” Young County, TX

Chinese 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 17
Fall Sowing September 1 Sep 1 โ€“ Sep 15

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

50โ€“70 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7.5 ยท Your soil: ideal

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

230 days in Young County

Growing Tips for Chinese Cabbage in Young County

Direct sow Chinese Cabbage outdoors after March 25 in Young 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 Young County, TX?

Young County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of March 25. Plan your Chinese Cabbage planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Young County, TX?

Young County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 25 and first fall frost is November 10.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Young County gardeners in Zone 7b 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 Young County, TX. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.