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- Start indoors
- Sow outdoors
- Plant out
- Plant
- Fall crop
- Today
Historical frost averages plus extension guidance, not a forecast. Check the forecast and soil temperature before planting.
Start cabbage seeds indoors 7–10 weeks before your last spring frost and plant them out 3–5 weeks before that frost date. For a fall crop, plant transplants out 11–15 weeks before your first fall frost. Cabbage is hardy and takes frost.
- Frost tolerance
- Hardy: takes frost
- Soil temperature
- Sows at 45–85°F (min 40°F)
- Days to harvest
- 65–100 days from transplant
The rule we use
- Start seeds indoors: 7–10 weeks before the last spring frost
- Plant out: 3–5 weeks before the last spring frost
- Plant out for fall: 11–15 weeks before the first fall frost
Starting cabbage seeds
Sow seeds ¼ inch deep indoors. They sprout fast at room temperature, then grow into sturdy plants in a cool room, around 60°F, under bright light. Transplants are ready at 5–7 weeks old, with four to six true leaves.
Cabbage is one of the earliest transplants to go out. Harden plants off for a week, then set them 12–18 inches apart. Early varieties make small heads quickly; late types make big heads and keep well.
Spring care
Cabbage handles frost, but a long spell of cold right after planting can make young plants bolt later. Give them steady moisture and plenty of nitrogen as they grow. Uneven watering, especially a heavy soak after a dry spell, is the usual cause of split heads.
Cabbage worms are the main pest. Floating row cover put on at planting keeps the white butterflies off.
Fall cabbage
Fall cabbage grows through late summer and heads up as the weather cools. Plant transplants 11–15 weeks before your first fall frost. Start seeds 5–6 weeks earlier, outside in a shaded bed or indoors.
Mature heads handle frost into the mid-20s, and frost sweetens them. Cut heads when they're firm. Leave the stump and you may get a few small bonus heads.
Seeds and supplies for cabbage
- Cabbage seeds at True Leaf Market
- Park Seed for seeds and young plants.
- Seedling heat mats keep seed trays warm for fast, even sprouting.
- LED grow lights stop seedlings stretching toward a window.
- Floating row cover keeps cabbage worms off.
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Questions about planting cabbage
Can cabbage be planted before the last frost?
Yes. Hardened-off cabbage can usually go out 3–5 weeks before your last frost date.
When do I plant cabbage for fall?
Set out transplants about 11–15 weeks before your first fall frost. Enter your ZIP above for exact dates.
Why are my cabbage heads splitting?
Usually a sudden burst of growth after rain or heavy watering when heads are mature. Water evenly and harvest heads once they're firm.
Sources
- Vegetable Planting Calendar for Central Maryland (2026), University of Maryland Extension
- Vegetables for Spring and Fall Planting; Vegetables for Summer Planting, University of Maryland Extension Master Gardeners
- Extension Gardener Handbook, Ch. 16: Vegetable Gardening, NC State Extension
- Extension Gardener Handbook, Ch. 13: Propagation, NC State Extension
- Vegetable Planting Guide (CMG GardenNotes #720), Colorado State University Extension
- When should I sow my cabbage seeds indoors?, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
- Suggested Vegetable Planting Dates for Utah, Utah State University Extension
- Frost dates: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (doi:10.25921/4ek7-fk11)