When to plant cabbage in New Hampshire
New Hampshire’s average last spring frost is May 13, and the first fall frost typically arrives around September 25 — about 135 frost-free days (USDA zones 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a). Cabbage needs 60–100 days to mature, which fits comfortably within New Hampshire's growing season.
When to plant cabbage in New Hampshire: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out Apr 15 – May 2, with seeds started indoors Mar 25 – Apr 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 New Hampshire, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Mar 25 – Apr 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 (Apr 15 – May 2). 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 New Hampshire.
- 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 21 – Jul 31). 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 New Hampshire’s average frost dates. More in the full cabbage growing guide.
Cabbage planting dates by USDA zone in New Hampshire
New Hampshire 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 |
|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire (this page) | May 13 | Apr 15 – May 2 |
| Maine | May 14 | Apr 16 – May 3 |
| 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 New Hampshire ask
When is the best time to plant cabbage in New Hampshire?
Plant cabbage transplants outdoors in New Hampshire between April 15 and May 2. That timing is set by New Hampshire's average last spring frost of May 13.
When should I start cabbage seeds indoors in New Hampshire?
Start seeds indoors between March 25 and April 8, about 6 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from April 15.
Can I plant cabbage in the fall in New Hampshire?
Yes. For a fall crop, start transplants between June 16 and July 3, so the crop matures in cool weather before New Hampshire's first frost around September 25.
When will cabbage planted in New Hampshire be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, cabbage is usually ready from about June 21 to July 31, 60-100 days after transplanting.
When is the last frost in New Hampshire?
On average around May 13, with the first fall frost around September 25 - about 135 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.