Oregon · Washington · Idaho

When to plant cabbage

Plant in the garden: Portland and Seattle Mar 15 – Apr 19; Spokane Apr 15 – May 20; Boise Apr 1 – May 6; Bend May 12 – Jun 16.

Cabbage is a cabbage-family plant that wraps its leaves into a tight head, eaten raw in slaw, cooked, or fermented into sauerkraut. Heads come green, red or crinkly savoy, and range from small, quick types for summer to big, dense storage heads for fall and winter. A well-grown storage cabbage keeps for months in a cold spot.

Add to my garden plan

Puts cabbage on your free plan, with dates for your town and a spot in your beds.

Difficulty: Moderate
Sun: Full sun
Spacing: 18 inches apart
Planting depth: Plant starts at the depth they grew in the pot
Frost: Handles light frost
First harvest: About 75 days after planting

Even watering prevents split heads.

Cabbage planting dates

Towns	Start seeds indoors	Plant in the garden	Plant again for fall
Portland, OR, Seattle and Tacoma, WA	Jan 25 – Feb 8	Mar 15 – Apr 19	Jul 23 – Aug 6
Spokane, WA	Feb 25 – Mar 11	Apr 15 – May 20	Jul 20 – Aug 3
Boise and Meridian, ID, Astoria, OR	Feb 11–25	Apr 1 – May 6	Jul 23 – Aug 6
Bend and Redmond, OR	Mar 24 – Apr 7	May 12 – Jun 16	—

Dates for six main cities. For any of the other 80 towns, type it in the box at the top of the page or browse all towns.

Gresham, OR, Oregon City and West Linn, OR, Portland, OR, St. Helens and Scappoose, OR, Wilsonville and Canby, OR	Jan 25 – Feb 8	Mar 15 – Apr 19	Jul 23 – Aug 6
Hillsboro and Beaverton, OR	Jan 29 – Feb 12	Mar 19 – Apr 23	Jul 23 – Aug 6

Corvallis and Albany, OR, Eugene, OR, Salem, OR	Jan 25 – Feb 8	Mar 15 – Apr 19	Jul 23 – Aug 6
Cottage Grove, OR	Feb 6–20	Mar 27 – May 1	Jul 23 – Aug 6
McMinnville and Newberg, OR	Jan 28 – Feb 11	Mar 18 – Apr 22	Jul 23 – Aug 6

Ashland and Talent, OR	Feb 18 – Mar 4	Apr 8 – May 13	Jul 16–30
Grants Pass, OR, Medford, OR, Roseburg, OR	Jan 25 – Feb 8	Mar 15 – Apr 19	Jul 23 – Aug 6

Astoria, OR, Brookings and Gold Beach, OR, Coos Bay and North Bend, OR, Newport and Lincoln City, OR, Tillamook, OR	Feb 11–25	Apr 1 – May 6	Jul 23 – Aug 6

Bend and Redmond, OR, Klamath Falls, OR	Mar 24 – Apr 7	May 12 – Jun 16	—
Burns, OR	Mar 26 – Apr 9	May 14 – Jun 18	—
Lakeview, OR	Mar 19 – Apr 2	May 7 – Jun 11	—
Madras, OR	Mar 3–17	Apr 21 – May 26	Jul 12–26
Prineville, OR	Mar 16–30	May 4 – Jun 8	Jun 30 – Jul 14

Baker City, OR	Mar 9–23	Apr 27 – Jun 1	Jun 23 – Jul 7
Enterprise and Joseph, OR	Mar 8–22	Apr 26 – May 31	Jul 9–23
Hermiston, OR	Feb 11–25	Apr 1 – May 6	Jul 18 – Aug 1
Hood River, OR	Feb 11–25	Apr 1 – May 6	Jul 21 – Aug 4
John Day, OR	Mar 12–26	Apr 30 – Jun 4	Jun 26 – Jul 10
La Grande, OR	Feb 25 – Mar 11	Apr 15 – May 20	Jul 9–23
Ontario, OR	Feb 11–25	Apr 1 – May 6	Jul 22 – Aug 5
Pendleton, OR, The Dalles, OR	Feb 11–25	Apr 1 – May 6	Jul 23 – Aug 6

Bremerton and Port Orchard, WA, Everett, WA, Kent, Renton and Auburn, WA, Seattle and Tacoma, WA	Jan 25 – Feb 8	Mar 15 – Apr 19	Jul 23 – Aug 6
Olympia, WA	Feb 11–25	Apr 1 – May 6	Jul 22 – Aug 5
Shelton, WA	Feb 9–23	Mar 30 – May 4	Jul 23 – Aug 6

Anacortes, WA, Bellingham, WA, Friday Harbor and the San Juans, WA, Mount Vernon and Burlington, WA, Oak Harbor and Whidbey Island, WA	Jan 25 – Feb 8	Mar 15 – Apr 19	Jul 23 – Aug 6

Aberdeen and Hoquiam, WA, Forks, WA, Long Beach and Ilwaco, WA	Feb 11–25	Apr 1 – May 6	Jul 23 – Aug 6
Port Angeles, WA, Port Townsend, WA	Jan 25 – Feb 8	Mar 15 – Apr 19	Jul 23 – Aug 6
Sequim, WA	Feb 3–17	Mar 24 – Apr 28	Jul 23 – Aug 6

Centralia and Chehalis, WA	Feb 4–18	Mar 25 – Apr 29	Jul 23 – Aug 6
Longview and Kelso, WA, Vancouver, WA	Jan 25 – Feb 8	Mar 15 – Apr 19	Jul 23 – Aug 6

Chelan, WA, Wenatchee, WA	Feb 11–25	Apr 1 – May 6	Jul 23 – Aug 6
Leavenworth, WA	Feb 25 – Mar 11	Apr 15 – May 20	Jul 8–22
Omak and Okanogan, WA	Feb 25 – Mar 11	Apr 15 – May 20	Jul 15–29
Winthrop and Twisp, WA	Feb 27 – Mar 13	Apr 17 – May 22	Jun 30 – Jul 14

Ellensburg, WA	Feb 25 – Mar 11	Apr 15 – May 20	Jul 15–29
Ephrata and Quincy, WA, Walla Walla, WA	Feb 11–25	Apr 1 – May 6	Jul 23 – Aug 6
Goldendale, WA	Mar 3–17	Apr 21 – May 26	Jul 3–17
Moses Lake, WA	Feb 11–25	Apr 1 – May 6	Jul 16–30
Sunnyside, Grandview and Prosser, WA	Feb 13–27	Apr 3 – May 8	Jul 14–28
Tri-Cities (Pasco, Kennewick, Richland), WA	Feb 11–25	Apr 1 – May 6	Jul 19 – Aug 2
Yakima, WA	Feb 20 – Mar 6	Apr 10 – May 15	Jul 12–26

Colville, WA, Pullman, WA	Feb 25 – Mar 11	Apr 15 – May 20	Jul 10–24
Spokane, WA	Feb 25 – Mar 11	Apr 15 – May 20	Jul 20 – Aug 3

Bonners Ferry, ID	Feb 25 – Mar 11	Apr 15 – May 20	Jul 12–26
Coeur d'Alene and Post Falls, ID	Feb 25 – Mar 11	Apr 15 – May 20	Jul 23 – Aug 6
Sandpoint, ID	Feb 25 – Mar 11	Apr 15 – May 20	Jul 6–20

Lewiston, ID	Feb 11–25	Apr 1 – May 6	Jul 23 – Aug 6
Moscow, ID	Feb 25 – Mar 11	Apr 15 – May 20	Jul 10–24

Boise and Meridian, ID	Feb 11–25	Apr 1 – May 6	Jul 23 – Aug 6
Emmett, ID	Feb 12–26	Apr 2 – May 7	Jul 23 – Aug 6
McCall, ID	Apr 6–20	May 25 – Jun 29	—
Nampa and Caldwell, ID	Feb 11–25	Apr 1 – May 6	Jul 21 – Aug 4

Burley and Rupert, ID, Twin Falls, ID	Feb 25 – Mar 11	Apr 15 – May 20	Jul 12–26
Idaho Falls, ID	Feb 25 – Mar 11	Apr 15 – May 20	Jul 9–23
Pocatello, ID	Feb 25 – Mar 11	Apr 15 – May 20	Jul 19 – Aug 2
Rexburg, ID	Feb 25 – Mar 11	Apr 15 – May 20	Jul 2–16
Salmon, ID	Mar 1–15	Apr 19 – May 24	Jul 2–16

Cabbage year at a glance

Task	J	F	M	A	J	J	A	S	O	N
Start indoors	Jan	Feb
Plant			Mar	Apr		Jul	Aug
Harvest					Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov

Around Portland. Colder towns, especially east of the Cascades, run a few weeks later; the table above has your town's planting dates.

How to grow cabbage

Start seeds indoors on your city's dates in trays or small pots under a grow light or in your sunniest window. Or skip this step and buy young plants (starts) at a garden center.
Harden off the young plants: about a week before planting, set them outside for a few hours a day, a little longer each day.
Plant them in the garden on your city's dates, 18 inches apart. Plant starts at the depth they grew in the pot.
Water deeply once or twice a week rather than a little every day, and mulch once the soil is warm.
Plant again on your city's dates for a fall harvest.
Harvest: Cut when heads feel firm when squeezed. Water evenly to keep heads from splitting.

Growing cabbage in your part of the Northwest

The same plant behaves differently on the wet west side, the foggy coast and the dry, colder east side.

West-side valleys

Willamette Valley, Puget Sound, southern Oregon

Cabbage grows almost year round here, and hardy varieties planted in summer can stand in the garden into winter. Slugs, aphids and cabbage worms are the main pests.

Coast

Oregon and Washington coast

Cool summers suit cabbage well. Heads form slowly and stay firm.

East of the Cascades

Columbia Basin, Yakima, Boise, Spokane, north Idaho

Heat and uneven watering make heads split, so plant early spring and late summer crops and water deeply and evenly.

High desert and mountain towns

Central Oregon, high eastern Oregon valleys, McCall, Salmon

Cabbage handles frost and grows well through the cool summers. Choose earlier varieties so heads form before hard fall freezes.

Cabbage in a Northwest garden

Red cabbage in a raised bed, with marigolds planted along the edge. Photo: Janelle Burklund, contributor

More cabbage varieties

More widely sold picks that do well somewhere in the Northwest. The tag says which part of the Northwest suits each one best.

Golden Acre

Early green, round · 62 days

Small, round, firm heads that come in early. Compact plants fit small gardens, and it is a good first spring cabbage.

Both sides

Early Jersey Wakefield

Pointed heirloom, early · 63 days

Cone-shaped heads with sweet, tender leaves. This old heirloom resists splitting better than many early cabbages and is great for slaw.

Both sides

January King

Semi-savoy winter cabbage · Harvest late fall to winter

Flattened, crinkled heads tinged purple. Extremely cold hardy, it stands in the garden through a typical west-side winter for harvests when little else is ready.

Coast and west side

Copenhagen Market

Round green heirloom · 72 days

Round, solid heads on short stems that mature fairly early and close together. A classic for sauerkraut and fresh eating.

Both sides

Red Acre

Early red, compact · 76 days

Small, firm, deep red heads on compact plants. It resists splitting and keeps fairly well, adding color to slaws and salads.

Both sides

Danish Ballhead

Green storage heirloom · 105 days

Dense, round heads grown for fall harvest and winter storage. It handles cool weather well and is a favorite for sauerkraut.

Both sides

How much to grow

How many to plant

For a family of four, about 6 to 10 heads per planting. More if you make sauerkraut.

What to expect

One head per plant, 2 to 6 pounds depending on variety.

Storing the harvest

Whole heads keep two months or more in the fridge or a cold cellar. Late, dense varieties store longest.

What to plant after cabbage

Around Portland, the cabbage harvest wraps up around November. These crops can still go into the same bed, and they come from a different plant family, which helps with rotation.

Portland dates. Pick your town at the top of the page for yours.

Key numbers

Soil 50°F or warmerPlant out
6.0–7.5Soil pH
1–1.5 inches a week, evenlyWater
Split heads, root maggotsBiggest risk

Top care tip: Water evenly, about an inch a week, because a dry spell followed by a soaking splits heads.

Growing notes

What makes the difference in Northwest gardens, in plain language.

Soil and feeding

Cabbage needs fertile soil and steady nitrogen to build a big head. Mix compost and a balanced vegetable fertilizer into the bed before planting, and side-dress once the plants start to fill out. A pH around 6.0 to 7.5 suits it, and keeping the soil from getting too acidic helps prevent clubroot. Mulch after the soil warms to hold moisture and keep weeds down. Like broccoli, set transplants at the depth they grew in the pot and give each one the full 18 inches.

Why heads split

A cabbage head splits when it takes up a lot of water fast, often after a heavy rain or deep soaking that follows a dry spell. The inside grows faster than the outer leaves can stretch. Even watering is the best prevention. If a firm head is ready and big rain is coming, either harvest it or give the plant a twist to break some of its roots, which slows water uptake. Early Jersey Wakefield and Golden Acre are quick, small-headed types for spring, while January King is grown for fall and winter harvest west of the Cascades.

Pests, harvest and storage

Cabbage worms, root maggots and gray aphids all go after cabbage in the Northwest. Row cover from planting day handles the first two, and a strong spray of water knocks aphids back. Slugs also hide between the outer leaves in wet weather. Cut heads when they feel solid when squeezed. A whole, dry head keeps for weeks, even a couple of months, in a cold fridge or cool root cellar. Leave the stump in the ground in mild areas and it may sprout a few small bonus heads.

Good neighbors and crop rotation

Good neighbors

Onions. Narrow leaves that fit around cabbage without shading it.
Dill and calendula. Their flowers draw beneficial wasps and hoverflies.

Keep apart

Other cabbage-family crops in the same bed every year. Shared pests and clubroot build up; rotate.

Cabbage family: Grow cabbage-family crops in a different bed each year and come back to the same spot only every three or four years. Clubroot, which swells and knots the roots, lives in the soil for many years once it arrives, and root maggot pupae wait in last year's bed.

Pests and problems

What most often goes wrong with cabbage in Northwest gardens, how to spot it and what to do.

Cabbage worms and loopers

Signs: Holes in the leaves and green droppings between leaves.

What to do: Insect netting from planting, and hand-pick.

Cabbage root maggots

Signs: Young plants wilt and stall in spring.

What to do: Row cover or stem collars from planting day.

Split heads

Signs: Heads crack open after heavy rain or watering.

What to do: Water evenly. Twist mature heads a quarter turn to slow growth if rain is coming.

Common questions about growing cabbage

When should I plant cabbage in Oregon, Washington and Idaho?

Plant in the garden: Mar 15 – Apr 19 in Portland and Seattle, Apr 15 – May 20 in Spokane, Apr 1 – May 6 in Boise and May 12 – Jun 16 in Bend. Pick your town at the top of the page for your own dates.

Why did my cabbage split open?

A sudden rush of water, from rain or a big watering after dry soil, made the inside grow faster than the outer leaves. Water evenly and harvest heads soon after they firm up. A split head is still fine to eat if you use it soon.

Why isn't my cabbage forming a head?

Common causes are too little nitrogen, too much heat, crowding, or stressed transplants. Give plants rich soil, full sun, 18 inches of space and even water. Fall crops often head more reliably here because they mature in cool weather.

How do I know when cabbage is ready to pick?

Squeeze the head: when it feels firm and solid all the way through, it's ready. Don't wait long after that, since mature heads can split. Cut it at the base with a sharp knife.

Cabbage Worms and Aphids on Kale, Broccoli and CabbageThe two pests that chew and crowd Northwest cabbage-family crops, how to spot them early, and how to keep them off without harsh sprays.
How to Harden Off Seedlings Before Planting OutSeedlings raised indoors need a week or two to adjust to sun, wind and cool nights. Here's a simple day-by-day schedule that works in a Northwest spring.
Soil pH in the Northwest: Testing, Lime and When to Leave It AloneHeavy rain makes many west-side soils acidic, while east-side soils lean the other way. Here's how to find out what you have and what to do about it.
Crop Rotation for a Small Northwest Vegetable GardenWinter is the time to plan next year's beds. A simple way to rotate vegetable families in a few raised beds, and the soil diseases it helps you avoid.

Also on these lists: