When to plant cabbage in Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s average last spring frost is May 10, and the first fall frost typically arrives around September 30 — about 143 frost-free days (USDA zones 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b). Cabbage needs 60–100 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Wisconsin's growing season.
When to plant cabbage in Wisconsin: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out Apr 12 – Apr 29, with seeds started indoors Mar 22 – Apr 5. 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 Wisconsin, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Mar 22 – Apr 5). 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 12 – Apr 29). 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 Wisconsin.
- 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 18 – Jul 28). 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 Wisconsin’s average frost dates. More in the full cabbage growing guide.
Cabbage planting dates by USDA zone in Wisconsin
Wisconsin spans USDA zones 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b. 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 Wisconsin ask
When is the best time to plant cabbage in Wisconsin?
Plant cabbage transplants outdoors in Wisconsin between April 12 and April 29. That timing is set by Wisconsin's average last spring frost of May 10.
When should I start cabbage seeds indoors in Wisconsin?
Start seeds indoors between March 22 and April 5, about 6 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from April 12.
Can I plant cabbage in the fall in Wisconsin?
Yes. For a fall crop, start transplants between June 21 and July 8, so the crop matures in cool weather before Wisconsin's first frost around September 30.
When will cabbage planted in Wisconsin be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, cabbage is usually ready from about June 18 to July 28, 60-100 days after transplanting.
When is the last frost in Wisconsin?
On average around May 10, with the first fall frost around September 30 - about 143 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.