When to plant cabbage in Seattle
Cabbage is cold-hardy, so every date keys off Seattle's frost dates of Mar 17.
Step 1 · Sow
Start seeds indoors
Feb 3 – Feb 24
Before your last frost, on a warm windowsill or heat mat.
Step 2 · Plant
Transplant outdoors
Dec 26 – Jan 16
Once frost risk has passed and nights stay mild.
Step 3 · Harvest
Harvest window
Mar 6 – Apr 5
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Step 4 · Second sowing
Autumn / second sowing
Jul 15 – Jul 29
A second window for a fall crop, timed to mature before the first frost.
Step 5 · Second harvest
Autumn crop harvest
Sep 30 – Oct 30
Maturity window for the second sowing.
Window
Days to maturity
70 – 100 d
Seattle's 237-day season leaves this much room.
Cabbage on Seattle'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
MAR 17
NOV 13
Common questions
When will cabbage be ready to harvest in Seattle?
Expect to harvest from around early March (Mar 6–Apr 5) in Seattle, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 75%.
When should I start cabbage seeds indoors in Seattle?
Start seeds indoors around early February (Feb 3–Feb 24) in Seattle, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 79%.
When can I transplant cabbage outdoors in Seattle?
Transplant outdoors around late December (Dec 26–Jan 16) in Seattle, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 81%.
Can I plant cabbage in autumn in Seattle?
Yes — Seattle supports a second, autumn sowing of cabbage around mid July (Jul 15–Jul 29), timed to mature before the first fall frost.
How long is the growing season in Seattle?
Seattle has roughly 237 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 Seattle's frost dates.
Confidence 83/100 · Curated · based on NOAA GHCN-Daily 1991–2020 normal · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.