Garden Tempo

Texas, U.S. · outdoor planting

When to plant cabbage in Texas

Plant spring cabbage about 4–6 weeks before the local average frost-free date. For fall, count back 10–16 weeks from the first freeze; the Texas A&M regional average ranges from July 15 in Region I to November 1 in Region V.

Choose the Texas timing rule
Spring
4–6 weeks before the local frost-free date
Based on your local frost-free date
Fall
10–16 weeks before the first freeze
Based on your local first freeze
Start with
Direct seed or transplant
Transplants usually give a more predictable head-start; direct seeding needs a cool, evenly moist seed zone.

Spring and fall are different calculations

Start with your local frost date

Texas is too large for one planting day. Spring timing is measured from the local average frost-free date. Fall timing is measured backward from the local first freeze, then checked against the Texas A&M regional anchor when one is published.

Spring rule

4–6 weeks before the local frost-free date

Use the frost-free date for your garden, not a statewide average.

Fall rule

10–16 weeks before the first freeze

Count backward from the local first freeze and leave room for establishment.

Texas A&M gardening regions

Regional planning anchors

Texas A&M divides the state into five gardening regions. The dates below are planning anchors, not boundaries that follow county lines and not promises about one exact garden.

Region I

Fall average: Jul 15

Northern Panhandle

Region II

Fall average: Aug 1

West Texas and the High Plains

Region III

Fall average: Sep 1

North, East and Central Texas

Region IV

Fall average: Oct 1

South Texas

Region V

Fall average: Nov 1

Lower Rio Grande Valley

Plant only when the crop is ready

The calendar is the first filter

A date can be inside the planning range and still be a poor planting day. Check the crop-specific conditions before committing seed or plants.

  • The crop can mature through cool weather rather than peak heat.
  • The transplant is hardened to the conditions it will meet outdoors.
  • Soil moisture can remain even during early root and head development.

Method changes timing

How to start cabbage

Transplants usually give a more predictable head-start; direct seeding needs a cool, evenly moist seed zone.

Select a maturity range

Cabbage varieties do not finish together; use the seed packet maturity time before choosing the late edge.

Choose seed or plants

A transplant reduces the time the crop must spend establishing outdoors and is the safer late-window choice.

Set at the right depth

Keep the root ball covered without burying the growing point, then water the transplant in promptly.

When the simple answer breaks

Early and late decisions

A usable planting page needs an action when weather, region or maturity no longer fits the headline range.

Warm early fall

Do not force the average date

The regional date is a planning anchor; wait when heat would prevent a healthy start, but preserve enough time before the freeze.

Very late start

Prefer a shorter-maturity cultivar

A shorter variety may fit where a long-season cabbage no longer has enough cool growing time.

Why this answer is shaped this way

Cabbage tolerates frost but still needs time

Cold tolerance does not erase maturity. The useful decision combines the regional date, the 10–16 week fall countback and the variety’s actual days to harvest.