When to plant cabbage in Rochester
Cabbage is cold-hardy, so every date keys off Rochester's frost dates of Apr 29.
Step 1 · Sow
Start seeds indoors
Mar 18 – Apr 8
Before your last frost, on a warm windowsill or heat mat.
Step 2 · Plant
Transplant outdoors
Apr 8 – Apr 29
Once frost risk has passed and nights stay mild.
Step 3 · Harvest
Harvest window
Jun 17 – Jul 17
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Step 4 · Second sowing
Autumn / second sowing
Jun 25 – Jul 9
A second window for a fall crop, timed to mature before the first frost.
Step 5 · Second harvest
Autumn crop harvest
Sep 10 – Oct 10
Maturity window for the second sowing.
Window
Days to maturity
70 – 100 d
Rochester's 173-day season leaves this much room.
Cabbage on Rochester'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 29
OCT 24
Common questions
When will cabbage be ready to harvest in Rochester?
Expect to harvest from around mid June (Jun 17–Jul 17) in Rochester, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 80%.
When should I start cabbage seeds indoors in Rochester?
Start seeds indoors around mid March (Mar 18–Apr 8) in Rochester, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 85%.
When can I transplant cabbage outdoors in Rochester?
Transplant outdoors around early April (Apr 8–Apr 29) in Rochester, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 89%.
Can I plant cabbage in autumn in Rochester?
Yes — Rochester supports a second, autumn sowing of cabbage around late June (Jun 25–Jul 9), timed to mature before the first fall frost.
How long is the growing season in Rochester?
Rochester has roughly 173 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 Rochester's frost dates.
Confidence 89/100 · Curated · based on NOAA GHCN-Daily 1991–2020 normal · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.