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 | Dec 17 – Jan 11 | Sep 6 – Oct 16 |
Know when it's time to plant
Give us your ZIP and we'll email you a planting checklist for your exact frost dates, this month's list right now, then once a month when sow windows open.
One email a month, only when there's something to plant. Unsubscribe anytime.
Know before you grow
The practical stuff.
Ready to pick when
Heads tall, tight, and firm when squeezed, usually 10 to 12 inches. Cut at the base.
Don't wait: Napa bolts fast in heat; loose stretchy heads mean cut today.
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 · Black rot · Cabbage root maggot, 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, garlic, beet. Keep away from tomato, tomato, tomato.
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.
Napa Cabbage keeps for months in cool storage. See how much to grow and store to feed your household, and how long it keeps.
Napa Cabbage planting questions
How many napa cabbage plants do I need per person?+
For steady eating (about 3 servings a week), plan on roughly 1 plant per person. A family of 4 needs about 1 plants, which takes around 3 sq ft of bed space.
How much space does napa cabbage need?+
Space plants 15" apart in the row with 24" between rows. Sow 0.25" deep. Direct sow in the bed.
When should I plant napa cabbage?+
It depends on your frost dates. Spring sowing is keyed to your last spring frost. It also has a fall window keyed to your first fall frost. The zone table on this page shows typical windows; enter your ZIP in the free planner for dates tuned to your exact location, not just your zone.
Is growing napa cabbage worth it?+
At about $4.00/lb retail and ~4 lb per plant, a family-of-4 planting is worth about $16 a year at the store. Prices vary by region and season, so treat it as an estimate.