Napa Cabbage (Chinese Cabbage) in Zone 11a & 11b

Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis

When to plant napa cabbage (chinese cabbage) in zone 11b

Zones 11a and 11b share the same average frost dates in our data, so this page covers both.

Method: Either: Start indoors for an earlier harvest, or direct-sow outside for less fuss. Napa Cabbage (Chinese Cabbage) tolerates either.

Start indoorsDec 4–Dec 11
Direct sow / transplant outsideJan 1–Jan 8
Estimated harvestFeb 27–Mar 6 (~57 days after planting)

Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1 ft.

Napa Cabbage (Chinese Cabbage)
Photo: Taken by Fanghong via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.5, cropped.

Napa cabbage (also called Chinese cabbage) forms a dense, barrel-shaped head of crinkled, mild-flavored leaves, the classic base for kimchi, and a sweeter, more tender alternative to standard green cabbage.

How napa cabbage (chinese cabbage) fits zone 11's season

Zone 11b is frost-free in this dataset, so frost is not what limits the calendar here. What you can plant, and when, comes down to summer heat and daylength instead.

Good companions

No standout companions recorded yet for Napa Cabbage (Chinese Cabbage).

Where to buy napa cabbage seeds

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See it growing

Search YouTube for "growing napa cabbage (chinese cabbage)" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)

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Growing Napa Cabbage (Chinese Cabbage) in USDA zone 11b

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Growing Napa Cabbage (Chinese Cabbage) in USDA zone 11b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.

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