When to plant cabbage in Detroit
Cabbage is cold-hardy, so every date keys off Detroit's frost dates of Apr 15.
Step 1 · Sow
Start seeds indoors
Mar 4 – Mar 25
Before your last frost, on a warm windowsill or heat mat.
Step 2 · Plant
Transplant outdoors
Apr 5 – Apr 26
Once frost risk has passed and nights stay mild.
Step 3 · Harvest
Harvest window
Jun 14 – Jul 14
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Step 4 · Second sowing
Autumn / second sowing
Jul 2 – Jul 16
A second window for a fall crop, timed to mature before the first frost.
Step 5 · Second harvest
Autumn crop harvest
Sep 17 – Oct 17
Maturity window for the second sowing.
Window
Days to maturity
70 – 100 d
Detroit's 194-day season leaves this much room.
Cabbage on Detroit'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
FROST
FROST
APR 15
OCT 31
Common questions
When will cabbage be ready to harvest in Detroit?
Expect to harvest from around mid June (Jun 14–Jul 14) in Detroit, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 79%.
When should I start cabbage seeds indoors in Detroit?
Start seeds indoors around early March (Mar 4–Mar 25) in Detroit, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 84%.
When can I transplant cabbage outdoors in Detroit?
Transplant outdoors around early April (Apr 5–Apr 26) in Detroit, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 85%.
Can I plant cabbage in autumn in Detroit?
Yes — Detroit supports a second, autumn sowing of cabbage around early July (Jul 2–Jul 16), timed to mature before the first fall frost.
How long is the growing season in Detroit?
Detroit has roughly 194 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 Detroit's frost dates.
Confidence 88/100 · Curated · based on NOAA GHCN-Daily 1991–2020 normal · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.