How to Grow Cabbage
Brassica oleracea (Capitata group)
Dense, cool-season heads that sweeten in frost and store for months.
By the Plants by Zone Editorial Team · Reviewed June 1, 2026
About cabbage
Cabbage is a hardy cool-season brassica that forms a tight head of crisp leaves. It grows best in the cool of spring and fall and actually sweetens after a light frost. Steady moisture and rich soil are the keys to firm, split-free heads.
When to plant and harvest cabbage
Timing is relative to your frost dates. Find your USDA zone for exact dates, or browse the month-by-month calendars.
Start seeds indoors
6–8 weeks before last frost (spring) or midsummer (fall)
Transplant outdoors
2–4 weeks before last frost
Direct sow
Possible for fall crops in midsummer
Harvest
Late spring and again in fall
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How to grow cabbage step by step
- 1
Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before transplanting, or direct sow midsummer for a fall crop.
- 2
Transplant into firm, rich soil 2–4 weeks before the last spring frost — cabbage is cold-hardy.
- 3
Keep moisture steady and even; swings cause heads to split.
- 4
Mulch to cool the soil and feed every few weeks with nitrogen.
- 5
Watch for cabbage worms and cover with netting if needed.
- 6
Harvest once heads feel solid and firm.
Common problems growing cabbage
⚠ Heads split open
Caused by a growth surge after rain — give a sharp twist to sever some roots, or harvest promptly once firm.
⚠ Cabbage worms (green caterpillars)
Cover with insect netting at transplant, hand-pick, or use Bt; check undersides of leaves.
⚠ Failure to form a head
Heat or crowding — give full spacing and grow in the cool shoulder seasons.
✗ Keep away from
🧺 Harvesting cabbage
Cut the head at the base once it feels firm and solid, leaving the outer leaves and roots in place — many varieties will push out small secondary heads for a bonus harvest. Heads sweeten after a light frost and store for weeks in a cold spot.
Cabbage: frequently asked questions
When should you plant cabbage?＋
In most regions you start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before last frost (spring) or midsummer (fall), then transplant 2–4 weeks before last frost — or direct sow possible for fall crops in midsummer. Timing is relative to your last frost, so find your USDA hardiness zone for the exact planting dates where you live.
Why won’t my cabbage form a head?＋
Usually heat, crowding, or insufficient nitrogen. Cabbage heads best in cool weather with full spacing and steady feeding.
Can cabbage survive frost?＋
Yes — it is very cold-hardy and tastes sweeter after a light frost, which makes it an excellent fall crop.
Sources & review
Written and maintained by the Plants by Zone Editorial Team. Planting times are based on USDA hardiness zones and NOAA frost-date normals, with care guidance drawn from Cooperative Extension sources. Last reviewed June 1, 2026.
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone MapNOAA U.S. climate normalsCooperative Extension
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