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When to Plant Cabbage in Fremont County, WY

Fremont County, Wyoming Zone 5a May

May to-do list for Fremont County, Wyoming

If you only do a handful of things in the garden this May, make it these. They're sequenced around your zone's frost timing.

Avg. last frost May 15
Avg. first frost September 21
Soil temp (4") 38°F
Watering High
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.5 hrs
  1. Time to transplant cabbage

    Your last frost (May 15) has passed. These warm-season crops can handle outdoor soil now.

  2. Seed cabbage outdoors

    Your soil is 38°F — warm enough for these to germinate without babying.

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.

Fremont County, Wyoming is in USDA Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is May 15 and the first fall frost is September 21, giving you a growing season of approximately 129 days.

At an elevation of 6,059 feet, Fremont County receives approximately 14.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 80°F, so choose short-season varieties of Cabbage to ensure they mature before fall. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Cabbage successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Fremont County, WY (Zone 5a) Short season
129 days
Last Spring Frost May 15
129 growing days
First Fall Frost September 21

Fremont County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.7-7.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (10 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 6 Transplant: May 11 🍅 Harvest: Jul 13 – Sep 7
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (10 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 10 Transplant: May 15 🍅 Harvest: Jul 17 – Sep 11
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (1 days to spare)
Start indoors: May 6 Transplant: Jun 10 🍅 Harvest: Aug 12 – Oct 7

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 Fremont County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.7–7.8) overlaps with Cabbage's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Cabbage.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.4%). Annual compost additions will help 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

2
successive plantings in your 129-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Jun 13 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 13.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.9″/week
Rainfall provides
0.5″/week
You supply
0.8″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 948 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 1.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 3.9" 1.8" 2.1" 🚿 Regular watering
Jun 3.9" 1.2" 2.7" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 3.9" 1.2" 2.7" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 3.9" 1.4" 2.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Sep 3.9" 1.3" 2.6" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Fremont 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 1,290 GDD Excellent fit

Cabbage Planting Timeline — Fremont County, WY

Cabbage Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 10 Apr 10 – Apr 24
Transplant Outdoors May 15 May 15 – May 29
Direct Sow May 1 May 1 – May 22
Harvest July 17 Jul 17 – Sep 11
Fall Sowing July 13 Jul 13 – Jul 27

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 · 2-3 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

60–100 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 5a

📆 Growing Season

129 days in Fremont County

Growing Tips for Cabbage in Fremont County

Direct sow Cabbage outdoors after May 15 in Fremont 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.

Fremont County receives only 15" of rain annually. Cabbage needs consistent moisture — install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

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 Fremont County, WY?

Fremont County is in Zone 5a with an average last frost of May 15. Plan your Cabbage planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Fremont County, WY?

Fremont County, Wyoming is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is May 15 and first fall frost is September 21.

🌱

Your Fremont County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Fremont County (Zone 5a). 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 Fremont County, WY. 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.