Cabbage in Zone 4a & 4b
Brassica oleracea
Yes, cabbage grows in zones 4a and 4b. Start seeds indoors Apr 3–Apr 10 and plant out May 1–May 8.
When to plant cabbage in zone 4b
Zones 4a and 4b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Start indoors: Start indoors from seed, then transplant outside. It needs a head start most zones can't give it by direct-sowing alone.
| Start indoors | Apr 3–Apr 10 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | May 1–May 8 |
| Estimated harvest | Jul 10–Jul 17 (~70 days after transplanting) |
Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1-1.5 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 4b
These go outside within two weeks of cabbage in zone 4b, so one planting day can cover them.
- RadishApr 17–Apr 24
- CarrotApr 24–May 1
- LettuceMay 1–May 8
- BroccoliMay 1–May 8
- Flower SproutsMay 1–May 8
- Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli)May 1–May 8
Cabbage takes up a full square foot for months and won't forgive a rushed transplant date. Start it too late into warm weather and it's more likely to bolt or stall than to head up properly.
How cabbage fits zone 4's season
Zone 4b's frost-free window runs about 128 days, from May 15 to September 20. Cabbage needs about 70 days from transplant to first harvest.
Cabbage planting windows in every zone
Zone 4b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2a & 2b | Apr 8–Apr 15 | May 6–May 13 | Jul 15–Jul 22 |
| 3a & 3b | Apr 18–Apr 25 | May 16–May 23 | Jul 25–Aug 1 |
| 4a & 4b (your zone) | Apr 3–Apr 10 | May 1–May 8 | Jul 10–Jul 17 |
| 5a & 5bSpring window | Mar 29–Apr 5 | Apr 26–May 3 | Jul 5–Jul 12 |
| Fall window | Jun 15–Jun 29 | Jul 13–Jul 27 | Sep 21–Oct 5 |
| 6a & 6bSpring window | Mar 14–Mar 21 | Apr 11–Apr 18 | Jun 20–Jun 27 |
| Fall window | Jun 25–Jul 9 | Jul 23–Aug 6 | Oct 1–Oct 15 |
| 7a & 7bSpring window | Feb 27–Mar 6 | Mar 27–Apr 3 | Jun 5–Jun 12 |
| Fall window | Jul 5–Jul 19 | Aug 2–Aug 16 | Oct 11–Oct 25 |
| 8a & 8bSpring window | Feb 11–Feb 18 | Mar 11–Mar 18 | May 20–May 27 |
| Fall window | Jul 21–Aug 4 | Aug 18–Sep 1 | Oct 27–Nov 10 |
| 9a & 9bSpring window | Jan 4–Jan 11 | Feb 1–Feb 8 | Apr 12–Apr 19 |
| Fall window | Aug 15–Aug 29 | Sep 12–Sep 26 | Nov 21–Dec 5 |
| 10a & 10bFall window | Aug–Dec | Sep–Jan | ~70 days after transplanting |
Harvest dates are about 70 days after the sow or plant-out date, not after starting seeds indoors.
Zone 2 sows before zone 3 here, which looks wrong and is not. USDA zones rank winter cold, not season length, and zone 2 is mostly interior Alaska, where hard winters come with warm summers. More on what a zone measures.
Good companions
- Onion: Onion scent is reputed to confuse cabbage moths. The research behind this is real but garlic-specific (field trials intercropping garlic with cabbage reduced diamondback moth damage): onion hasn't been tested the same way, so treat the onion version as a reasonable extrapolation, not a directly measured result.
Where to buy cabbage seeds
Botanical Interests · True Leaf Market · Burpee · High Mowing Organic Seeds (each supplier's cabbage seeds)
Varieties we recommend, and where to get them:
- Stonehead or Caraflex (early-season): Iowa State University Extension lists both as early-season varieties (roughly 60-65 days) with good holding ability, suited to gardeners who want a spring crop finished before summer heat or a second planting for fall harvest. Buy: Botanical Interests · High Mowing Organic Seeds Full notes
- 'Golden Acre' (best for small heads, quick turnaround): A 1920s open-pollinated heirloom with solid 5-7 inch heads at just 60 days, smaller and even earlier than Stonehead or Caraflex above. Buy: True Leaf Market · High Mowing Organic Seeds Full notes
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing cabbage" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 4b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Cabbage in USDA zone 4b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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