Florida planting calendar

When to plant cabbage in Florida — sow, transplant & harvest dates

Florida is mostly USDA zone 9b (range 8a-11b). Dates below are derived from cabbage's frost tolerance and Florida's frost window — not generic national averages.

Cabbage planting timetable for Florida

Stage	When in Florida	Anchor
Direct-sow / set out (main)	October — February	Grown through the cool season, not summer
Shoulder sowing	September and again late February	Avoid germinating into summer heat
First harvest	~80 days after sowing (late autumn through spring)	80-day crop

Dates are state-wide averages for the dominant zone. Local microclimates — elevation, urban heat, coastal moderation — can shift the window by 1-2 weeks. Use the frost-date calculator for a date tuned to your town.

Why Florida's climate shifts the cabbage dates

Florida flips the calendar: its winter is the productive cabbage season while northern states are frozen, and its summer is the off-season. Florida is the warmest state in the contiguous US, with subtropical to tropical conditions. The growing constraint is summer heat, humidity, and rain — not cold.

Cabbage is one of the hardier brassicas, tolerating temperatures down to around −7 °C (20 °F) once established; light frost actually improves flavour. Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before last spring frost and transplant 3–4 weeks before last frost. Spacing affects head size — 30 cm (12 in) produces smaller, tender heads; 60 cm (24 in) allows large storage types. Heads will split if left in the field after maturing or after rain following drought stress. For fall crops, count back from first expected autumn frost — most varieties need 70–120 days.

Frost-risk note

Light frost in the western Panhandle near Tallahassee (zone 8a) only nips the outer leaves — heat, not cold, ends the crop.

Regional variation within Florida

the Florida Keys (zone 11b) can sow earliest in autumn and latest into late winter; the western Panhandle near Tallahassee (zone 8a) has a slightly shorter, frost-bracketed window.

Miami — USDA zone 11a
Orlando — USDA zone 10a
Tampa — USDA zone 10a
Jacksonville — USDA zone 9a
Tallahassee — USDA zone 8b

What else to plant in Florida around then

The same cool window suits other greens, brassicas, peas, carrots, and radishes — fill beds October through February.

Quick-grow guide

Sun: Full sun — 6+ hours direct.
Soil temperature for germination: 7–29 °C (45–85 °F).
Spacing: 12–24 inches (30–60 cm) between plants.
Days to harvest: ~80 days from planting out.

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to plant cabbage in Florida?

In Florida (mostly USDA zone 9b), grow cabbage as a cool-season crop: direct-sow from October through February, harvest ~80 days later, and skip summer entirely — heat above 24 °C bolts it. Cabbage are cold-hardy — they tolerate frost and actively prefer cool weather, so they go in well before the last spring frost and bolt in summer heat.

What USDA zone is Florida?

Most of Florida sits in USDA hardiness zone 9b, with the state spanning roughly 8a-11b from the western Panhandle near Tallahassee (zone 8a) to the Florida Keys (zone 11b). The last spring frost averages late February (north) to no frost (south) and the first fall frost mid-December (north) to no frost (south).

Can you grow cabbage in Florida?

Yes. Florida's dominant zone 9b supports cabbage — the key is timing. Cabbage are cold-hardy — they tolerate frost and actively prefer cool weather, so they go in well before the last spring frost and bolt in summer heat.

Does the planting date change across Florida?

the Florida Keys (zone 11b) can sow earliest in autumn and latest into late winter; the western Panhandle near Tallahassee (zone 8a) has a slightly shorter, frost-bracketed window.

What else can I plant in Florida around the same time?

The same cool window suits other greens, brassicas, peas, carrots, and radishes — fill beds October through February.

Source and methodology

State zone spans from the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023); frost-date averages from NOAA Climate Data Online. Hot-state two-season timing cross-checked against the UF/IFAS Florida Gardening Calendar and the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension planting calendar. Curated by the Growli editorial team.