When to plant cabbage in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania’s average last spring frost is May 1, and the first fall frost typically arrives around October 10 — about 162 frost-free days (USDA zones 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b). Cabbage needs 60–100 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Pennsylvania's growing season.
Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out Apr 3 – Apr 20, with seeds started indoors Mar 13 – Mar 27. 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 Pennsylvania, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Mar 13 – Mar 27). 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 3 – Apr 20). 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 Pennsylvania.
- 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 9 – Jul 19). 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 Pennsylvania’s average frost dates. More in the full cabbage growing guide.
Cabbage planting dates by USDA zone in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania spans USDA zones 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania (this page) | May 1 | Apr 3 – Apr 20 |
| New Jersey | April 20 | Mar 23 – Apr 9 |
| Delaware | April 14 | Mar 17 – Apr 3 |
| Maryland | April 14 | Mar 17 – Apr 3 |
| District of Columbia | April 10 | Mar 13 – Mar 30 |
| Virginia | April 15 | Mar 18 – Apr 4 |
| West Virginia | May 5 | Apr 7 – Apr 24 |
Questions gardeners in Pennsylvania ask
When is the best time to plant cabbage in Pennsylvania?
Plant cabbage transplants outdoors in Pennsylvania between April 3 and April 20. That timing is set by Pennsylvania's average last spring frost of May 1; Pennsylvania spans several climates, so cooler and higher parts of the state run later.
When should I start cabbage seeds indoors in Pennsylvania?
Start seeds indoors between March 13 and March 27, about 6 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from April 3.
Can I plant cabbage in the fall in Pennsylvania?
Yes. For a fall crop, start transplants between July 1 and July 18, so the crop matures in cool weather before Pennsylvania's first frost around October 10.
When will cabbage planted in Pennsylvania be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, cabbage is usually ready from about June 9 to July 19, 60-100 days after transplanting.
When is the last frost in Pennsylvania?
On average around May 1, with the first fall frost around October 10 - about 162 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.