Cabbage is a cool-season vegetable that thrives in moderate temperatures, making Ohio’s climate suitable for both a spring and a fall harvest. Successful growth hinges on proper timing, as the plant must mature before the intense heat of summer or the deep freeze of winter. Planting at the wrong time can cause the plant to prematurely form a seed stalk (bolting) or result in small, loose heads. Understanding local frost dates is the most important factor for maximizing yield.
Spring Planting Timing
The goal of spring planting is to allow cabbage heads to mature during the mild temperatures of late spring before summer heat arrives. This process must begin indoors well ahead of the last expected spring frost. Seeds should be sown indoors approximately six to eight weeks before the average last frost date for your region in Ohio.
For most of the state, where the last frost typically falls in late April or early May, seeds should be started indoors in late February or early March. After four to six weeks of indoor growth, the seedlings are ready for transplanting outdoors. Cabbage seedlings are frost tolerant, allowing them to be planted in the garden two to four weeks before the last expected frost date.
This early transplanting window, often late April to early May, ensures the plants establish while temperatures are cool. However, prolonged exposure of young plants to temperatures between 35°F and 50°F for ten days or more can trigger premature bolting. Gardeners must consult their local frost calendar, as Ohio’s last frost dates range from mid-April in southern areas to mid-May in northern zones, requiring adjustment of indoor start and transplanting dates.
Fall Planting Timing
Planting for a fall harvest often yields sweeter cabbage because the heads mature in descending temperatures. The timing for the fall crop is calculated in reverse, based on the average date of the first expected hard frost, which generally occurs between early and mid-October in Ohio.
To ensure the heads reach full size before the hard freeze, transplants should be set into the garden approximately eight to ten weeks before that first frost date. This places the transplanting window between early and mid-July. For example, if the first frost is expected around October 10th, transplants need to be in the ground by the end of July.
Starting seeds indoors should occur about four to six weeks earlier, placing the indoor start in June. While summer heat can stress young plants, providing afternoon shade and consistent moisture is necessary until fall temperatures arrive. Mature heads tolerate a light frost, which enhances flavor, but they must be harvested before a deep, sustained freeze occurs.
Soil and Sunlight Requirements
Once timing is correct, providing the right environmental conditions is necessary for healthy head formation. Cabbage requires full sun exposure, meaning the planting location should receive a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight daily. Adequate light ensures the plant can perform photosynthesis for rapid, dense growth.
The soil must be fertile and well-drained, with a high content of organic matter. Cabbage plants are heavy feeders and grow best in a slightly acidic to neutral soil environment. Optimal growth occurs when the soil pH is maintained between 6.0 and 6.8, a range that helps suppress common diseases like clubroot.