When to plant cabbage in Alabama
Alabama’s average last spring frost is March 25, and the first fall frost typically arrives around November 5 — about 225 frost-free days (USDA zones 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a). Cabbage needs 60–100 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Alabama's growing season.
When to plant cabbage in Alabama: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out Feb 25 – Mar 14, with seeds started indoors Feb 4 – Feb 18. Seeds germinate in soil from 45 to 85°F.
Windows are ~1–2 week bands around each date. Frost dates are a statewide average from NOAA/NCEI normals; your town may differ by two weeks or more. Calendar year 2026.
How to grow cabbage in Alabama, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Feb 4 – Feb 18). Sow seeds ½ inch deep in seed-starting mix under bright light. They take 5-10 days to sprout, fastest in soil around 75°F. Harden seedlings off for a week before they go outside.
- Prepare the bed. It needs at least six to eight hours of direct sun a day and loose soil at least 18 inches deep, with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. Dig in compost before planting.
- Plant out (Feb 25 – Mar 14). Space plants about 15 inches apart in rows 30 inches apart. It handles frost well, so it can go out before the last frost date. As a cool-season crop it does best before summer heat arrives in Alabama.
- Water and feed. Give it steady, even moisture, about an inch of water a week from rain or the hose.
- Watch for pests and problems. Pests: cabbage worm, cabbage looper, aphids, cabbage root maggot, flea beetle. Diseases and disorders: clubroot, black rot, downy mildew, fusarium yellows.
- Harvest (from about May 3 – Jun 12). Cabbage takes 60-100 days to reach harvest. 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.
Figures come from our crop data; dates use Alabama’s average frost dates. More in the full cabbage growing guide.
Cabbage planting dates by USDA zone in Alabama
Alabama spans USDA zones 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a. Colder zones, usually higher or further inland, have a later last spring frost and an earlier first fall frost than the state average, so the cabbage dates shift with them.
When to plant cabbage in nearby states
| State | Last frost | Plant out |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama (this page) | March 25 | Feb 25 – Mar 14 |
| Mississippi | March 20 | Feb 20 – Mar 9 |
| Louisiana | March 5 | Feb 5 – Feb 22 |
| Florida | February 12 | Jan 15 – Feb 1 |
| Arkansas | April 3 | Mar 6 – Mar 23 |
Questions gardeners in Alabama ask
When is the best time to plant cabbage in Alabama?
Plant cabbage transplants outdoors in Alabama between February 25 and March 14. That timing is set by Alabama's average last spring frost of March 25.
When should I start cabbage seeds indoors in Alabama?
Start seeds indoors between February 4 and February 18, about 6 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from February 25.
Can I plant cabbage in the fall in Alabama?
Yes. For a fall crop, start transplants between July 27 and August 13, so the crop matures in cool weather before Alabama's first frost around November 5.
When will cabbage planted in Alabama be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, cabbage is usually ready from about May 3 to June 12, 60-100 days after transplanting.
When is the last frost in Alabama?
On average around March 25, with the first fall frost around November 5 - about 225 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.