Moisture range
40–60%
Days to maturity
70–120
Light
Full sun
Growing Degree Units
1300 · base 40°F
When to plant cabbage in your zone
Indoor-start, transplant and harvest dates calibrated to your climate.
Growing notes
Cabbage is a cool-season crop that grows best at temperatures between 60° and 70°F and can withstand light frosts without injury. The best quality heads are firm, crisp, juicy, sweet, and sometimes peppery, but without bitterness.
Harvest signs
when the heads reach a usable size and are firm and solid
▶Planting reference— Depth, spacing, pH, light
▶Pests & diseases— flea beetles, imported cabbage worm, cabbage looper, diamondback moth, +5 more
Common pests · 6
Flea beetles: chew small holes in leaves (Seedlings are most vulnerable to injury from this feeding) ↗
Imported cabbage worm: larvae feed on the leaves (Young seedlings and transplants are most vulnerable to injury from this feeding) ↗
Cabbage looper: larvae feed on the leaves (Young seedlings and transplants are most vulnerable to injury from this feeding) ↗
Diamondback moth: larvae feed on the leaves (Young seedlings and transplants are most vulnerable to injury from this feeding) ↗
Cabbage maggots: feed on the roots, injuring the plants, sometimes killing them ↗
Cabbageworms: eat large, irregular holes in the foliage ↗
Companions & antagonists
Plant near:DillMarigold
Keep apart from:Tomato
Tip: Start early — matures before summer heat.
Common questions
How much water does cabbage need?
Cabbage is water-sensitive — shallow roots and a steady thirst. Keep soil moisture in roughly the 40–60% range and don't let it dry out fully, or growth stalls and leafy crops turn bitter.
Can I grow cabbage in a raised bed or container?
Yes — cabbage does well in raised beds and is happy in a decent-sized container too, as long as drainage is good.
Does cabbage come back every year?
No — cabbage is an annual. It completes its life in one season, so you replant it each year.