When to plant cabbage in Rhode Island
Rhode Island’s average last spring frost is April 25, and the first fall frost typically arrives around October 15 — about 173 frost-free days (USDA zones 6a, 6b, 7a). Cabbage needs 60–100 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Rhode Island's growing season.
When to plant cabbage in Rhode Island: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out Mar 28 – Apr 14, with seeds started indoors Mar 7 – Mar 21. 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 Rhode Island, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Mar 7 – Mar 21). 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 28 – Apr 14). 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 Rhode Island.
- 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 3 – Jul 13). 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 Rhode Island’s average frost dates. More in the full cabbage growing guide.
Cabbage planting dates by USDA zone in Rhode Island
Rhode Island spans USDA zones 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island (this page) | April 25 | Mar 28 – Apr 14 |
| Maine | 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 |
| Connecticut | April 25 | Mar 28 – Apr 14 |
| New York | May 1 | Apr 3 – Apr 20 |
Questions gardeners in Rhode Island ask
When is the best time to plant cabbage in Rhode Island?
Plant cabbage transplants outdoors in Rhode Island between March 28 and April 14. That timing is set by Rhode Island's average last spring frost of April 25.
When should I start cabbage seeds indoors in Rhode Island?
Start seeds indoors between March 7 and March 21, about 6 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from March 28.
Can I plant cabbage in the fall in Rhode Island?
Yes. For a fall crop, start transplants between July 6 and July 23, so the crop matures in cool weather before Rhode Island's first frost around October 15.
When will cabbage planted in Rhode Island be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, cabbage is usually ready from about June 3 to July 13, 60-100 days after transplanting.
When is the last frost in Rhode Island?
On average around April 25, with the first fall frost around October 15 - about 173 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.