How to grow cabbage
Brassica oleracea (Capitata) · Brassicaceae · Vegetable
When to plant cabbage: the short answer
Start seeds indoors about 6 weeks before your last spring frost; plant out about 3 weeks before it; for a fall crop, sow about 13 weeks before your first fall frost. Seeds germinate in soil from 45 to 85°F, fastest near 75°F.
Cold winters (zone 5): plant out Apr 2 – Apr 19, or sow Jun 26 – Jul 13 for a fall crop. Mild winters (zone 9): sow Aug 21 – Sep 7 for fall and winter harvests; the spring window (Jan 23 – Feb 9) closes before the summer heat. Skip the hottest months for cabbage. See every zone.
Cabbage is a cool-season vegetable in the Brassicaceae family, usually started indoors and set out as transplants. It wants full sun (six or more hours of direct light) and consistent moisture — it resents drying out. From sowing to first pick is about 60–100 days. It handles frost well and a light freeze often improves the flavour.
Grower’s note: Tighter spacing (12 in) gives smaller heads better for one meal. Split heads mean it is past ready or got a sudden drink after dry weather.
Sowing
Sow about 0.5″ deep, into soil between 45–85°F — germination is quickest near 75°F. It comes up fast (5–10 days). For an early crop, start seed indoors about 6 weeks before your last spring frost and grow it under bright light.
Spacing & layout
Give each plant about 15″ along the row with roughly 30″ between rows. On a square-foot grid that is 1 per square foot. Allow at least 18″ of loose, workable soil for the roots. It grows well in containers at least 12″ deep.
Fitting it to your season
As a cool-season crop, cabbage does its best growing in the mild weather of spring and fall and tends to bolt or turn bitter in summer heat. A second sowing in late summer, timed to mature as the weather cools, is usually the better crop of the year — and light frost only sweetens it.
Quick facts
Growth stages: how long cabbage takes to grow
From seed to first harvest takes roughly 12-17 weeks: about 3 weeks as a seedling indoors, then 60-100 days in the garden.
When to plant cabbage
When to plant cabbage by USDA zone
Dates worked out from each zone’s typical frost dates for 2026. Find your zone on the zone map, or pick your state below for dates from its own frost dates. Zones 11 and above are frost-free, so timing there depends on heat and rain instead.
| Zone | Last / first frost | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Fall or second sowing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | May 15 / Sep 15 | Mar 27 – Apr 10 | Apr 17 – May 4 | Jun 6 – Jun 23 |
| Zone 4 | May 10 / Sep 25 | Mar 22 – Apr 5 | Apr 12 – Apr 29 | Jun 16 – Jul 3 |
| Zone 5 | Apr 30 / Oct 5 | Mar 12 – Mar 26 | Apr 2 – Apr 19 | Jun 26 – Jul 13 |
| Zone 6 | Apr 15 / Oct 15 | Feb 25 – Mar 11 | Mar 18 – Apr 4 | Jul 6 – Jul 23 |
| Zone 7 | Apr 5 / Oct 25 | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Mar 8 – Mar 25 | Jul 16 – Aug 2 |
| Zone 8 | Mar 20 / Nov 5 | Jan 30 – Feb 13 | Feb 20 – Mar 9 | Jul 27 – Aug 13 |
| Zone 9 | Feb 20 / Nov 30 | Jan 2 – Jan 16 | Jan 23 – Feb 9 | Aug 21 – Sep 7 |
| Zone 10 | Jan 30 / Dec 15 | Dec 12 – Dec 26 | Jan 2 – Jan 19 | Sep 5 – Sep 22 |
Or browse cabbage planting dates for every state as static pages.
Companions
Onion, Beet, Potato, Dill, Celery
Tomato, Pole Bean, strawberry
Common problems
Pests: cabbage worm, cabbage looper, aphids, cabbage root maggot, flea beetle.
Diseases & disorders: clubroot, black rot, downy mildew, fusarium yellows.
Same family (Brassicaceae)
Rotate these so they don’t follow each other in the same bed year to year.
Questions gardeners ask
When should I plant cabbage?
Start seeds indoors about 6 weeks before your last spring frost; plant out about 3 weeks before it; for a fall crop, sow about 13 weeks before your first fall frost. Seeds germinate in soil from 45 to 85°F. The table on this page gives dates for each USDA zone, and the planting calendar gives dates for your own state or ZIP code.
How long does cabbage take to grow?
About 60-100 days from transplanting to the first harvest, or roughly 12-17 weeks from sowing the seed indoors. Seeds germinate in 5-10 days.
How much sun does cabbage need?
It needs at least six to eight hours of direct sun a day.
What soil pH does cabbage need?
A soil pH between 6.0 and 7.5. Test before adding lime or sulfur - see the soil pH and testing guide.
How far apart should I plant cabbage?
Space plants about 15 inches apart in rows 30 inches apart, or 1 per square foot in a square-foot bed. Sow seeds about ½ inch deep.
Can I grow cabbage in a container?
Yes. Use a container at least 12 inches deep with drainage holes and a good potting mix, and water more often than you would in the ground.
Figures are typical home-garden ranges from Cooperative Extension planting guides, cross-checked against multiple state sources. Your variety and conditions will vary.