How to grow cabbage in a raised bed
Keep it evenly watered so the heads do not split.
Spacing1 plant per square foot
How to startStart seeds indoors 6 weeks before your last frost, or buy young plants
When to plantAbout 3 weeks before your last spring frost
Time to harvestAbout 70 days
Grows toAbout 16 in tall
When to plant cabbage in your zone
Dates are based on the average frost dates for each zone. Don't know your zone? Enter your ZIP code in the planner.
| Zone | Start seeds indoors | Plant in the bed | Plant again for fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3a | Apr 8 | Apr 29 | — |
| Zone 3b | Apr 3 | Apr 24 | — |
| Zone 4a | Mar 31 | Apr 21 | — |
| Zone 4b | Mar 27 | Apr 17 | Jul 6 |
| Zone 5a | Mar 23 | Apr 13 | Jul 11 |
| Zone 5b | Mar 17 | Apr 7 | Jul 18 |
| Zone 6a | Mar 11 | Apr 1 | Jul 23 |
| Zone 6b | Mar 4 | Mar 25 | Jul 28 |
| Zone 7a | Feb 25 | Mar 18 | Aug 4 |
| Zone 7b | Feb 18 | Mar 11 | Aug 11 |
| Zone 8a | Feb 11 | Mar 4 | Aug 18 |
| Zone 8b | Feb 1 | Feb 22 | Aug 26 |
| Zone 9a | Jan 18 | Feb 8 | Sep 8 |
| Zone 9b | Jan 4 | Jan 25 | Sep 17 |
| Zone 10a | Dec 20 | Jan 10 | Sep 27 |
| Zone 10b | Dec 4 | Dec 25 | Oct 8 |
Tips for raised beds
- In square-foot gardening, plant one plant in each 1 × 1 ft square.
- It stays fairly short, so it can go near the south (sunny) edge of the bed.
- Most vegetables and fruit need at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
Where to buy cabbage seeds
Burpee · True Leaf Market · Botanical Interests
Plan where your cabbage go. Pick your bed size and material, choose your plants, and get a printable plan with measurements, a shopping list and planting dates for your ZIP code. Free, no sign-up.
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