When to plant cabbage in Florida
Florida’s average last spring frost is February 12, and the first fall frost typically arrives around December 10 — about 301 frost-free days (USDA zones 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a). Cabbage needs 60–100 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Florida's growing season.
Florida covers a wide range of climates, so your exact frost dates may differ from the state average by two weeks or more. For dates tuned to your town, use the calendar generator.
When to plant cabbage in Florida: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out Jan 15 – Feb 1, with seeds started indoors Dec 25 – Jan 8. 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 Florida, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Dec 25 – Jan 8). 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 (Jan 15 – Feb 1). 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 Florida.
- 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 Mar 23 – May 2). 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 Florida’s average frost dates. More in the full cabbage growing guide.
Cabbage planting dates by USDA zone in Florida
Florida spans USDA zones 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Florida (this page) | February 12 | Jan 15 – Feb 1 |
| Alabama | March 25 | Feb 25 – Mar 14 |
| Mississippi | March 20 | Feb 20 – Mar 9 |
| Louisiana | March 5 | Feb 5 – Feb 22 |
| Arkansas | April 3 | Mar 6 – Mar 23 |
Questions gardeners in Florida ask
When is the best time to plant cabbage in Florida?
Plant cabbage transplants outdoors in Florida between January 15 and February 1. That timing is set by Florida's average last spring frost of February 12; Florida spans several climates, so cooler and higher parts of the state run later.
When should I start cabbage seeds indoors in Florida?
Start seeds indoors between December 25 and January 8, about 6 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from January 15.
Can I plant cabbage in the fall in Florida?
Yes. For a fall crop, start transplants between August 31 and September 17, so the crop matures in cool weather before Florida's first frost around December 10.
When will cabbage planted in Florida be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, cabbage is usually ready from about March 23 to May 2, 60-100 days after transplanting.
When is the last frost in Florida?
On average around February 12, with the first fall frost around December 10 - about 301 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.