Cabbage Growing Guide | Gardeningist

Growing profiles

Choose how this crop will be grown. Dimensions, spacing and timing belong to the selected profile—not to the species as a single universal value.

Early cabbage

Compact, faster-maturing heading cabbage.

Biological height: 30–60 cm (12–24 in) Source
Mature canopy: 35–65 cm (14–26 in) Source
Plant spacing: 38–50 cm (15–20 in) Source
Row spacing: 60–75 cm (24–30 in) Source
Layout: single row · open ground Source
Support: Usually unnecessary
Container: At least 19 L (5 US gal) · 1 plant Source
Best germination temperature: 18 °C (64 °F) Source

Climate-relative calendar

Planning estimates become local dates after the gardener supplies frost dates and current conditions. Harvest and crop-removal dates are estimates: actual crop condition takes priority.

Sow Cabbage indoors56 days before last spring frost to 42 days before last spring frost Source SourceRequired: Soil temperature between 5 °C (41 °F) and 30 °C (86 °F). Source

Harden off Cabbage42 days before last spring frost to 35 days before last spring frost Source

Transplant Cabbage outdoors28 days before last spring frost to last spring frost SourceRequired: Soil temperature at least 0 °C (32 °F) for 3 consecutive days. SourceCheck before proceeding: Forecast frost risk no more than 25%. Source

Begin harvesting Cabbage55 days after transplanting to 75 days after transplanting Source

Finish harvesting Cabbage14 days after first harvest to 30 days after first harvest

Remove Cabbage cropthe expected end of harvest to 7 days after the expected end of harvest

Midseason cabbage

Intermediate heading cabbage between early compact and large storage types.

Biological height: 40–75 cm (16–30 in) Source
Mature canopy: 45–75 cm (18–30 in) Source
Plant spacing: 45–65 cm (18–26 in) Source
Row spacing: 60–90 cm (24–35 in) Source
Layout: single row · open ground Source
Support: Usually unnecessary
Container: At least 25 L (6.6 US gal) · 1 plant Source
Best germination temperature: 18 °C (64 °F) Source

Climate-relative calendar

Planning estimates become local dates after the gardener supplies frost dates and current conditions. Harvest and crop-removal dates are estimates: actual crop condition takes priority.

Sow Cabbage indoors49 days before last spring frost to 35 days before last spring frost Source SourceRequired: Soil temperature between 5 °C (41 °F) and 30 °C (86 °F). Source

Harden off Cabbage35 days before last spring frost to 28 days before last spring frost Source

Transplant Cabbage outdoors21 days before last spring frost to 7 days after last spring frost SourceRequired: Soil temperature at least 0 °C (32 °F) for 3 consecutive days. SourceCheck before proceeding: Forecast frost risk no more than 25%. Source

Begin harvesting Cabbage70 days after transplanting to 90 days after transplanting Source

Finish harvesting Cabbage14 days after first harvest to 30 days after first harvest

Remove Cabbage cropthe expected end of harvest to 7 days after the expected end of harvest

Storage cabbage

Large, longer-season cabbage intended for mature heads and storage.

Biological height: 50–90 cm (20–35 in) Source
Mature canopy: 60–90 cm (24–35 in) Source
Plant spacing: 50–75 cm (20–30 in) Source
Row spacing: 75–100 cm (30–39 in) Source
Layout: single row · open ground Source
Support: Usually unnecessary
Container: At least 30 L (7.9 US gal) · 1 plant Source
Best germination temperature: 18 °C (64 °F) Source

Climate-relative calendar

Planning estimates become local dates after the gardener supplies frost dates and current conditions. Harvest and crop-removal dates are estimates: actual crop condition takes priority.

Sow Cabbage indoors42 days before last spring frost to 28 days before last spring frost Source SourceRequired: Soil temperature between 5 °C (41 °F) and 30 °C (86 °F). Source

Harden off Cabbage28 days before last spring frost to 21 days before last spring frost Source

Transplant Cabbage outdoors14 days before last spring frost to 14 days after last spring frost SourceRequired: Soil temperature at least 0 °C (32 °F) for 3 consecutive days. SourceCheck before proceeding: Forecast frost risk no more than 25%. Source

Begin harvesting Cabbage90 days after transplanting to 120 days after transplanting Source

Finish harvesting Cabbage14 days after first harvest to 30 days after first harvest

Remove Cabbage cropthe expected end of harvest to 7 days after the expected end of harvest

Agronomy release agronomy-2026-07-11-r1 · reviewed 2026-07-11 by Gardeningist agronomic research synthesis. Each fact links to its supporting source.

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