How to grow cabbage
Even watering prevents split heads. Fall cabbage sweetens after light frosts.
Your cabbage dates
Companions
BeetDillGarlicLettuceNasturtiumOnionPotatoRosemarySageSpinachSwiss chard
Keep apart from
Rotation and family
Cabbage belongs to the brassicas (Brassicaceae). Hungry for nitrogen; clubroot spores persist in soil for years.
In a four-bed crop rotation it goes in the leaf & brassica bed. Avoid growing it where any brassicas grew in the last three years.
When to plant cabbage by zone
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow / plant out | Sow for fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Apr 8 – Apr 22 | Apr 29 – May 20 | Jun 10 – Jul 1 |
| 4 | Mar 31 – Apr 14 | Apr 21 – May 12 | Jun 20 – Jul 11 |
| 5 | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | Apr 9 – Apr 30 | Jul 2 – Jul 23 |
| 6 | Mar 9 – Mar 23 | Mar 30 – Apr 20 | Jul 14 – Aug 4 |
| 7 | Feb 25 – Mar 11 | Mar 18 – Apr 8 | Jul 24 – Aug 14 |
| 8 | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | Mar 5 – Mar 26 | Aug 6 – Aug 27 |
| 9 | Jan 11 – Jan 25 | Feb 1 – Feb 22 | Aug 27 – Sep 17 |
| 10 | Dec 21 – Jan 4 | Jan 11 – Feb 1 | Sep 11 – Oct 2 |
Based on typical frost dates for each zone; b half-zones run about a week earlier in spring. Zones 11–13 are frost-free in most years.
Cabbage questions
When should I plant cabbage?
Plant cabbage outdoors 3 weeks before your last spring frost. Start seeds indoors about 6 weeks before your last frost. For a fall crop, sow about 14 weeks before your first fall frost.
How far apart should I plant cabbage?
About 18 inches apart, or 1 per square foot in a square foot garden.
What grows well with cabbage?
Traditional companions include beet, dill, garlic, lettuce, nasturtium, onion, potato, rosemary, sage, spinach, swiss chard. Keep it away from pole bean, strawberry, tomato.
How long does cabbage take to grow?
Typically 60–100 days from transplanting to first harvest, depending on variety and weather.