Last Updated on September 17, 2026
How Many Cabbage Plants per Square Foot?
1 cabbage plant per square foot, set in the center of the square, so plants sit 12 inches apart. At that spacing cabbage makes small heads, so the variety matters most: compact and early types fit one per square, and large storage types go in every other square.
The spacing pattern
| Per square foot | 1 plant, in the center of the square |
|---|---|
| Inches apart | 12 inches, plant to plant |
| 4 x 4 bed (16 squares) | up to 16 cabbage plants |
| 4 x 8 bed (32 squares) | up to 32 cabbage plants |
| 3 x 6 bed (18 squares) | up to 18 cabbage plants |
My square foot gardening chart gives cabbage its own square, the same as broccoli and cauliflower. The bed counts are grid maximums, and they assume a variety small enough for one square. A large-headed variety needs more room than that, so plan on fewer.
Why extension guides space cabbage wider
University of Minnesota Extension sets cabbage transplants 15 to 18 inches apart, and Utah State University Extension uses 12 to 18 inches. One square is the close end of that range, and University of Maryland Extension says what close spacing does: plants 12 inches apart make small heads, and large-headed varieties get more room. So choose the variety for the square. Head sizes as Wood Prairie lists them:
| Variety | Days | Head size | Plant it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Express | 60 | 3 lb heads on small plants | 1 per square |
| Golden Acre | 62 | compact, listed as suitable for dense plantings | 1 per square |
| Copenhagen | 70 | 3 to 4 lb, 6 to 8 inches across | 1 per square |
| All Seasons | 85 | 10 to 15 lb | every other square |
| Filderkraut | 100 to 120 | pointed heads up to 10 lb | every other square |
For a large kraut or storage variety, plant a checkerboard: every other square, alternating from row to row. Each plant’s nearest neighbors are then on the diagonal, about 17 inches away (12 inches x 1.41), inside the 15 to 18 inches Minnesota and Maryland use. That halves the count: up to 8 in a 4 x 4 bed, 16 in a 4 x 8, 9 in a 3 x 6.
Planting the square
- Start seeds indoors 8 to 6 weeks before your last frost (the Plan My Garden planner window), 1/4 inch deep. Minnesota Extension grows the seedlings at room temperature, 60 to 70°F, under bright light, and warns that warmer rooms make tall, weak plants.
- Harden them off over a week or two, bringing them in on nights below 40°F (Minnesota Extension).
- Set one transplant in the center of each square, 4 to 2 weeks before your last frost, at the same depth it sat in its pot.
- Water it in and mulch around it. Utah State University Extension says mulch helps conserve water and reduces weed growth.
When to plant cabbage
These are the windows the Plan My Garden planner uses, counted from your average last spring frost. Turn the weeks into dates with the seed starting calendar, or enter your zip code on Plan My Garden.
| Start indoors | 8 weeks before to 6 weeks before your last frost |
|---|---|
| Transplant out | 4 weeks before to 2 weeks before your last frost |
| Direct sow | No separate week in the planner. Minnesota Extension notes that direct-seeded cabbage takes up to three weeks longer to mature than transplants. |
| Days to maturity | about 70 days |
| Frost tolerance | Hardy: it takes frost. Maryland Extension says cabbage can withstand heavy frosts in spring and fall |
Soil temperature for germination
From my Seed Germination Temperature Chart: cabbage germinates from 40°F, does best at 60-85°F, and stops above 95°F. Days for seedlings to emerge, from the same chart:
| Soil temperature | Days to emerge |
|---|---|
| 50°F | 14.6 days |
| 59°F | 8.7 days |
| 68°F | 5.8 days |
| 77°F | 4.5 days |
| 86°F | 3.5 days |
Growing notes
Small heads come fast. Maryland Extension notes that small-headed varieties mature quickly and can be succession planted through the season, so an early variety can fill a square, come out, and make room for another planting. Mature heads can wait in the garden for about 2 weeks in summer and 3 to 4 weeks in fall before you cut them (Maryland Extension).
Steady water makes the head. Minnesota Extension calls for about 1 inch a week and says uneven water gives bitter, poorly textured heads; Utah State adds that swings in soil moisture while heads form make them split. If a full-size head has to wait, Minnesota Extension suggests twisting it a quarter turn to slow the water going in. Cut the head off above the outer leaves. The indoor setup is in my guide How to Start Seeds Indoors.
Where to get seed
Wood Prairie’s organic cabbage seed includes Golden Acre and Red Express for one per square, and All Seasons and Filderkraut for the checkerboard. Code PMG5 takes 5 percent off.
Quick questions
How many cabbage plants fit in a 4×8 raised bed?
Up to 32 at one per square, for compact or early varieties. For a large storage variety in a checkerboard, every other square, the bed holds up to 16.
What is cabbage spacing in square foot gardening?
One plant in the center of each square, 12 inches apart. University of Maryland Extension notes that 12 inch spacing makes small heads, so pick a compact or early variety for it.
How many cabbage plants do I need per person?
Utah State University Extension suggests 3 to 4 plants per person for fresh eating, plus 5 to 10 more for storage, canning or freezing.
Should you start cabbage indoors or direct sow it?
Start it indoors for a spring crop. The Plan My Garden planner starts cabbage indoors 8 to 6 weeks before your last frost and sets transplants out 4 to 2 weeks before. Minnesota Extension notes that direct-seeded cabbage takes up to three weeks longer to mature than transplants.
Let the planner place them
Skip the grid math. Plan My Garden is free to start: enter your zip code, draw your beds, pick cabbage and everything else you want to grow, and it places each plant at square-foot spacing and builds a planting schedule from your frost dates.
Related: Square Foot Gardening Chart · Seed Starting Calendar · 4×4 Raised Bed Garden Layout · How Many Broccoli Plants per Square Foot? · How Many Kale Plants per Square Foot? · How Many Collard Plants per Square Foot?
