When to plant cabbage in Mississippi
Mississippi’s average last spring frost is March 20, and the first fall frost typically arrives around November 5 — about 230 frost-free days (USDA zones 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a). Cabbage needs 60–100 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Mississippi's growing season.
When to plant cabbage in Mississippi: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out Feb 20 – Mar 9, with seeds started indoors Jan 30 – Feb 13. 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 Mississippi, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Jan 30 – Feb 13). 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 20 – Mar 9). 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 Mississippi.
- 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 Apr 28 – Jun 7). 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 Mississippi’s average frost dates. More in the full cabbage growing guide.
Cabbage planting dates by USDA zone in Mississippi
Mississippi 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
Questions gardeners in Mississippi ask
When is the best time to plant cabbage in Mississippi?
Plant cabbage transplants outdoors in Mississippi between February 20 and March 9. That timing is set by Mississippi's average last spring frost of March 20.
When should I start cabbage seeds indoors in Mississippi?
Start seeds indoors between January 30 and February 13, about 6 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from February 20.
Can I plant cabbage in the fall in Mississippi?
Yes. For a fall crop, start transplants between July 27 and August 13, so the crop matures in cool weather before Mississippi's first frost around November 5.
When will cabbage planted in Mississippi be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, cabbage is usually ready from about April 28 to June 7, 60-100 days after transplanting.
When is the last frost in Mississippi?
On average around March 20, with the first fall frost around November 5 - about 230 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.