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When to Plant Cabbage in Price County, WI

Price County, Wisconsin Zone 4a May

May to-do list for Price County, Wisconsin

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

Avg. last frost May 17
Avg. first frost September 29
Soil temp (4") 50°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.7 hrs
  1. Time to transplant cabbage

    Plant tomatoes deep — bury the stem up to the first true leaves to grow extra roots. Everything else goes in at the same depth it grew in the tray.

  2. Seed cabbage outdoors

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

Coming up in June — start thinking about
  • 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.

Price County, Wisconsin is in USDA Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 17 and the first fall frost is September 29, giving you a growing season of approximately 135 days.

At an elevation of 1,325 feet, Price County receives approximately 41.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 80°F, so choose short-season varieties of Cabbage to ensure they mature before fall.

Price County, WI (Zone 4a) Short season
135 days
Last Spring Frost May 17
135 growing days
First Fall Frost September 29

Price County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.9-7.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (12 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 1 Transplant: May 13 🍅 Harvest: Jul 15 – Sep 9
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (16 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 5 Transplant: May 17 🍅 Harvest: Jul 19 – Sep 13
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (13 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 18 Transplant: May 30 🍅 Harvest: Aug 1 – Sep 26

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 Price County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.9–7.3) overlaps with Cabbage's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.8%) — 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 135-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Jun 21 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 07.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.9″/week
Rainfall provides
1.3″/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 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 3.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 3.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 3.9" 5.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 3.9" 5.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3.9" 4.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3.9" 4.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3.9" 3.6" 0.3" 💧 Light watering
Oct 2.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 3.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 2.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Price 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 ~800 GDD — county provides 1,350 GDD Excellent fit

Cabbage Planting Timeline — Price County, WI

Cabbage Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 5 Apr 5 – Apr 19
Transplant Outdoors May 17 May 17 – May 31
Direct Sow May 10 May 10 – May 31
Harvest July 19 Jul 19 – Sep 13
Fall Sowing July 7 Jul 7 – Jul 21

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 · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

60–100 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 4a

📆 Growing Season

135 days in Price County

Growing Tips for Cabbage in Price County

Direct sow Cabbage outdoors after May 17 in Price 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 Price County, WI?

Price County is in Zone 4a with an average last frost of May 17. Plan your Cabbage planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Price County, WI?

Price County, Wisconsin is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 17 and first fall frost is September 29.

🌱

Your Price County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Price County (Zone 4a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Price 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.