When to plant cabbage in Des Moines

Cabbage is cold-hardy, so every date keys off Des Moines's frost dates of Apr 17.
Step 1 · Sow
Start seeds indoors
Mar 6 – Mar 27
Before your last frost, on a warm windowsill or heat mat.
Step 2 · Plant
Transplant outdoors
Mar 27 – Apr 17
Once frost risk has passed and nights stay mild.
Step 3 · Harvest
Harvest window
Jun 5 – Jul 5
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Step 4 · Second sowing
Autumn / second sowing
Jun 17 – Jul 1
A second window for a fall crop, timed to mature before the first frost.
Step 5 · Second harvest
Autumn crop harvest
Sep 2 – Oct 2
Maturity window for the second sowing.
Window
Days to maturity
70 – 100 d
Des Moines's 179-day season leaves this much room.
Cabbage on Des Moines's growing year
Frost-bounded season with crops mapped onto the 12-month axis.
Frost risk Growing Harvest
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
APR 17
OCT 16

Common questions

When will cabbage be ready to harvest in Des Moines?

Expect to harvest from around early June (Jun 5–Jul 5) in Des Moines, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 80%.

When should I start cabbage seeds indoors in Des Moines?

Start seeds indoors around early March (Mar 6–Mar 27) in Des Moines, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 85%.

When can I transplant cabbage outdoors in Des Moines?

Transplant outdoors around late March (Mar 27–Apr 17) in Des Moines, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 89%.

Can I plant cabbage in autumn in Des Moines?

Yes — Des Moines supports a second, autumn sowing of cabbage around mid June (Jun 17–Jul 1), timed to mature before the first fall frost.

How long is the growing season in Des Moines?

Des Moines has roughly 179 frost-free days, which is enough time to grow cabbage to maturity outdoors.

The rule of thumb

Sow cabbage as soon as the soil is workable — it tolerates cool weather and light frost. Every date on this page is derived from that rule and Des Moines's frost dates.

Confidence 89/100 · Curated · based on NOAA GHCN-Daily 1991–2020 normal · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.