leafy · direct sow
Napa Cabbage: how much to plant.
A family of 4 eating napa cabbage a few times a week needs about 1 plants in ~3 sq ft, worth about $16 a year at the store. Here are the exact numbers for your household, and when to plant in every zone.
How much to plant
Plants, space, seeds, and value.
Counts assume about 3 servings per person per week with a germination buffer built in. Store value uses ~$4.00/lb retail — an estimate that varies by region and season.
| Household | Plants | Bed space | Seeds to buy | Store value / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 1 | ~3 sq ft | ~2 | ~$16 |
| 2 people | 1 | ~3 sq ft | ~2 | ~$16 |
| 4 people | 1 | ~3 sq ft | ~2 | ~$16 |
| 6 people | 1 | ~3 sq ft | ~2 | ~$16 |
Spacing
15" in row · 24" between rows
Sow depth
0.25"
Days to harvest
75 from seed
When to plant
Sow windows by USDA zone, 2026.
Zone dates are typical, not exact. The free planner uses your ZIP code's frost dates, not just the zone, and shifts every window to match.
| Zone | Spring sow window | Fall sow window |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | Mar 31 – Apr 25 | Jun 7 – Jul 17 |
| Zone 4 | Mar 26 – Apr 20 | Jun 17 – Jul 27 |
| Zone 5 | Mar 16 – Apr 10 | Jun 27 – Aug 6 |
| Zone 6 | Mar 6 – Mar 31 | Jul 7 – Aug 16 |
| Zone 7 | Feb 19 – Mar 16 | Jul 17 – Aug 26 |
| Zone 8 | Feb 8 – Mar 5 | Aug 7 – Sep 16 |
| Zone 9 | Jan 6 – Jan 31 | Aug 27 – Oct 6 |
| Zone 10 | Jan 1 – Jan 11 | Sep 6 – Oct 16 |
Know before you grow
The practical stuff.
Yield
About 4 lbs per plant over ~1 productive weeks (~4 lb). Re-sow every ~21 days for a steady supply instead of one glut.
Watch for
Cabbage worms & loopers · Aphids · Flea beetles — the pest guide covers organic fixes for each, and Pest Radar shows what gardeners near you are reporting right now.
Neighbors
Plays well with carrot, onion-bulb, garlic, beet. Keep away from tomato-slicing, tomato-cherry, tomato-paste.
On the plate (per 100 g, USDA)
16 kcal · 1.2 g fiber · 27 mg vitamin C · 238 mg potassium
Stop guessing. Get your exact numbers.
Tell the free planner what you want to eat and who you're feeding. It returns plant counts, spacing, and frost-safe sow dates for your ZIP code — not just your zone — in about 60 seconds.