When to plant cabbage in Virginia
Virginia’s average last spring frost is April 15, and the first fall frost typically arrives around October 20 — about 188 frost-free days (USDA zones 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a). Cabbage needs 60–100 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Virginia's growing season.
Virginia 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 Virginia: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out Mar 18 – Apr 4, with seeds started indoors Feb 25 – Mar 11. 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 Virginia, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Feb 25 – Mar 11). 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 18 – Apr 4). 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 Virginia.
- 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 May 24 – Jul 3). 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 Virginia’s average frost dates. More in the full cabbage growing guide.
Cabbage planting dates by USDA zone in Virginia
Virginia spans USDA zones 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia (this page) | April 15 | Mar 18 – Apr 4 |
| New Jersey | April 20 | Mar 23 – Apr 9 |
| Pennsylvania | May 1 | Apr 3 – Apr 20 |
| Delaware | April 14 | Mar 17 – Apr 3 |
| Maryland | April 14 | Mar 17 – Apr 3 |
| District of Columbia | April 10 | Mar 13 – Mar 30 |
| West Virginia | May 5 | Apr 7 – Apr 24 |
Questions gardeners in Virginia ask
When is the best time to plant cabbage in Virginia?
Plant cabbage transplants outdoors in Virginia between March 18 and April 4. That timing is set by Virginia's average last spring frost of April 15; Virginia spans several climates, so cooler and higher parts of the state run later.
When should I start cabbage seeds indoors in Virginia?
Start seeds indoors between February 25 and March 11, about 6 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from March 18.
Can I plant cabbage in the fall in Virginia?
Yes. For a fall crop, start transplants between July 11 and July 28, so the crop matures in cool weather before Virginia's first frost around October 20.
When will cabbage planted in Virginia be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, cabbage is usually ready from about May 24 to July 3, 60-100 days after transplanting.
When is the last frost in Virginia?
On average around April 15, with the first fall frost around October 20 - about 188 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.