When to plant cabbage in Maine
Maine’s average last spring frost is May 14, and the first fall frost typically arrives around September 25 — about 134 frost-free days (USDA zones 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a). Cabbage needs 60–100 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Maine's growing season.
When to plant cabbage in Maine: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out Apr 16 – May 3, with seeds started indoors Mar 26 – Apr 9. 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 Maine, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Mar 26 – Apr 9). 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 (Apr 16 – May 3). 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 Maine.
- 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 22 – Aug 1). 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 Maine’s average frost dates. More in the full cabbage growing guide.
Cabbage planting dates by USDA zone in Maine
Maine spans USDA zones 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Maine (this page) | May 14 | Apr 16 – May 3 |
| New Hampshire | May 13 | Apr 15 – May 2 |
| Vermont | May 14 | Apr 16 – May 3 |
| Massachusetts | April 24 | Mar 27 – Apr 13 |
| 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 Maine ask
When is the best time to plant cabbage in Maine?
Plant cabbage transplants outdoors in Maine between April 16 and May 3. That timing is set by Maine's average last spring frost of May 14.
When should I start cabbage seeds indoors in Maine?
Start seeds indoors between March 26 and April 9, about 6 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from April 16.
Can I plant cabbage in the fall in Maine?
Yes. For a fall crop, start transplants between June 16 and July 3, so the crop matures in cool weather before Maine's first frost around September 25.
When will cabbage planted in Maine be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, cabbage is usually ready from about June 22 to August 1, 60-100 days after transplanting.
When is the last frost in Maine?
On average around May 14, with the first fall frost around September 25 - about 134 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.