Rainline Garden

When to plant cabbage in Oregon and Washington

In Portland: Start cabbage from seed indoors Jan 25 – Feb 8, then plant the young plants in the garden Mar 15 – Apr 19. For a fall harvest, plant again Jul 23 – Aug 6. In Bend: May 12 – Jun 16. Find your city below.

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 by city

CityStart seeds indoorsPlant in the gardenPlant again for fall
Astoria, ORFeb 11–25Apr 1 – May 6Jul 23 – Aug 6
Baker City, ORMar 9–23Apr 27 – Jun 1Jun 23 – Jul 7
Bend and Redmond, ORMar 24 – Apr 7May 12 – Jun 16—
Burns, ORMar 26 – Apr 9May 14 – Jun 18—
Coos Bay and North Bend, ORFeb 11–25Apr 1 – May 6Jul 23 – Aug 6
Eugene, ORJan 25 – Feb 8Mar 15 – Apr 19Jul 23 – Aug 6
Gresham, ORJan 25 – Feb 8Mar 15 – Apr 19Jul 23 – Aug 6
Klamath Falls, ORMar 24 – Apr 7May 12 – Jun 16—
Medford, ORJan 25 – Feb 8Mar 15 – Apr 19Jul 23 – Aug 6
Pendleton, ORFeb 11–25Apr 1 – May 6Jul 23 – Aug 6
Portland, ORJan 25 – Feb 8Mar 15 – Apr 19Jul 23 – Aug 6
Roseburg, ORJan 25 – Feb 8Mar 15 – Apr 19Jul 23 – Aug 6
Salem, ORJan 25 – Feb 8Mar 15 – Apr 19Jul 23 – Aug 6
The Dalles, ORFeb 11–25Apr 1 – May 6Jul 23 – Aug 6
Wilsonville and Canby, ORJan 25 – Feb 8Mar 15 – Apr 19Jul 23 – Aug 6
Aberdeen and Hoquiam, WAFeb 11–25Apr 1 – May 6Jul 23 – Aug 6
Bellingham, WAJan 25 – Feb 8Mar 15 – Apr 19Jul 23 – Aug 6
Ellensburg, WAFeb 25 – Mar 11Apr 15 – May 20Jul 15–29
Everett, WAJan 25 – Feb 8Mar 15 – Apr 19Jul 23 – Aug 6
Forks, WAFeb 11–25Apr 1 – May 6Jul 23 – Aug 6
Moses Lake, WAFeb 11–25Apr 1 – May 6Jul 16–30
Olympia, WAFeb 11–25Apr 1 – May 6Jul 22 – Aug 5
Omak and Okanogan, WAFeb 25 – Mar 11Apr 15 – May 20Jul 15–29
Seattle and Tacoma, WAJan 25 – Feb 8Mar 15 – Apr 19Jul 23 – Aug 6
Spokane, WAFeb 25 – Mar 11Apr 15 – May 20Jul 20 – Aug 3
Tri-Cities (Pasco, Kennewick, Richland), WAFeb 11–25Apr 1 – May 6Jul 19 – Aug 2
Vancouver, WAJan 25 – Feb 8Mar 15 – Apr 19Jul 23 – Aug 6
Walla Walla, WAFeb 11–25Apr 1 – May 6Jul 23 – Aug 6
Wenatchee, WAFeb 11–25Apr 1 – May 6Jul 23 – Aug 6
Yakima, WAFeb 20 – Mar 6Apr 10 – May 15Jul 12–26

How to grow cabbage

  1. 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.
  2. Harden off the young plants: about a week before planting, set them outside for a few hours a day, a little longer each day.
  3. Plant them in the garden on your city's dates, 18 inches apart. Plant starts at the depth they grew in the pot.
  4. Water deeply once or twice a week rather than a little every day, and mulch once the soil is warm.
  5. Plant again on your city's dates for a fall harvest.
  6. Harvest: Cut when heads feel firm when squeezed. Water evenly to keep heads from splitting.

Varieties that do well in the Northwest

Watch out for

Cabbage worms and root maggots. Row cover from planting day prevents both.

More cabbage family

See all 51 plants