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When to Plant Cabbage in Langlade County, WI

Langlade County, Wisconsin Zone 4b May

Top priorities for Langlade County, Wisconsin gardeners in May

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

Avg. last frost May 16
Avg. first frost September 30
Soil temp (4") 53°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.7 hrs
  1. Set out cabbage seedlings

    Bring a watering can to the bed. Each transplant gets a drink the moment it's in the ground, not ten minutes later.

  2. Put cabbage seeds straight in the ground

    Keep the top inch of soil moist until germination — a gentle morning watering for 5–7 days does the job.

Looking ahead to June
  • Starting indoors: 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.

Langlade County, Wisconsin is in USDA Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is May 16 and the first fall frost is September 30, giving you a growing season of approximately 137 days.

At an elevation of 1,377 feet, Langlade County receives approximately 35 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 84°F, so choose short-season varieties of Cabbage to ensure they mature before fall.

Langlade County, WI (Zone 4b) Short season
137 days
Last Spring Frost May 16
137 growing days
First Fall Frost September 30

Langlade County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6.1-7.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (20 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 30 Transplant: May 11 🍅 Harvest: Jul 13 – Sep 7
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (18 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 4 Transplant: May 16 🍅 Harvest: Jul 18 – Sep 12
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (15 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 16 Transplant: May 28 🍅 Harvest: Jul 30 – Sep 24

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 Langlade County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.1–7.2) is within Cabbage's preferred range (6.0–7.5).

Soil Texture

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

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Cabbage.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.5%) — Cabbage will thrive.

How to Plant Cabbage

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

Fall planting: Sow 12 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Cabbage

2
successive plantings in your 137-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Jun 22 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 08.

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 142 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 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 3.9" 4.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 3.9" 4.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3.9" 4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3.9" 3.6" 0.3" 💧 Light watering
Sep 3.9" 2.7" 1.2" 💧 Light watering
Oct 3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 2.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Langlade 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 ~1,040 GDD — county provides 1,781 GDD Excellent fit

Cabbage Planting Timeline — Langlade County, WI

Cabbage Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 4 Apr 4 – Apr 18
Transplant Outdoors May 16 May 16 – May 30
Direct Sow May 9 May 9 – May 30
Harvest July 18 Jul 18 – Sep 12
Fall Sowing July 8 Jul 8 – Jul 22

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.9"/week · Only during dry spells

📅 Days to Maturity

60–100 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: ideal

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 4b

📆 Growing Season

137 days in Langlade County

Growing Tips for Cabbage in Langlade County

Direct sow Cabbage outdoors after May 16 in Langlade 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 Langlade County, WI?

Langlade County is in Zone 4b with an average last frost of May 16. Plan your Cabbage planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Langlade County, WI?

Langlade County, Wisconsin is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is May 16 and first fall frost is September 30.

🌱

Your Langlade County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Langlade County (Zone 4b). 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 Langlade County, WI. 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.