When to plant cabbage in Massachusetts
Massachusetts’s average last spring frost is April 24, and the first fall frost typically arrives around October 14 — about 173 frost-free days (USDA zones 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a). Cabbage needs 60–100 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Massachusetts's growing season.
When to plant cabbage in Massachusetts: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out Mar 27 – Apr 13, with seeds started indoors Mar 6 – Mar 20. 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 Massachusetts, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Mar 6 – Mar 20). 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 (Mar 27 – Apr 13). 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 Massachusetts.
- 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 Jun 2 – Jul 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 Massachusetts’s average frost dates. More in the full cabbage growing guide.
Cabbage planting dates by USDA zone in Massachusetts
Massachusetts spans USDA zones 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts (this page) | April 24 | Mar 27 – Apr 13 |
| Maine | May 14 | Apr 16 – May 3 |
| New Hampshire | May 13 | Apr 15 – May 2 |
| Vermont | May 14 | Apr 16 – May 3 |
| Rhode Island | April 25 | Mar 28 – Apr 14 |
| Connecticut | April 25 | Mar 28 – Apr 14 |
| New York | May 1 | Apr 3 – Apr 20 |
Questions gardeners in Massachusetts ask
When is the best time to plant cabbage in Massachusetts?
Plant cabbage transplants outdoors in Massachusetts between March 27 and April 13. That timing is set by Massachusetts's average last spring frost of April 24.
When should I start cabbage seeds indoors in Massachusetts?
Start seeds indoors between March 6 and March 20, about 6 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from March 27.
Can I plant cabbage in the fall in Massachusetts?
Yes. For a fall crop, start transplants between July 5 and July 22, so the crop matures in cool weather before Massachusetts's first frost around October 14.
When will cabbage planted in Massachusetts be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, cabbage is usually ready from about June 2 to July 12, 60-100 days after transplanting.
When is the last frost in Massachusetts?
On average around April 24, with the first fall frost around October 14 - about 173 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.