When to Plant Napa Cabbage in Berkeley, California (94708)

Location

Berkeley, California

ZIP Code

94708

USDA Zone

10a

Last Frost

Sunday, January 25, 2026

📅 Your 2026 Planting Dates

Start Seeds Indoors

Sunday, December 14, 2025

Transplant Outdoors

Sunday, February 8, 2026

Based on last frost Sunday, January 25, 2026 · Zone 10a

Pro tip: Start Napa Cabbage seeds indoors 6 weeks before your last frost date, then transplant outdoors around Sunday, February 8, 2026.

Add to Calendar (.ics)

🌿 Plant Details

Scientific Name Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis

Days to Maturity 70 days

Mature Height 12-18"

Spread 12"

☀️ Growing Requirements

☀️

Sun

Full Sun (6-8 hours)

💧

Water

Regular (1-2 inches/week)

↔️

Spacing

18" apart

🌱

Planting Depth

0.25" deep

Seeds typically germinate in 4-7 days

Ready to Plant Napa Cabbage in Berkeley?

Get your seeds now so they're ready by Sunday, December 14, 2025.

🛒 Buy on Amazon 🌿 True Leaf Market

* Affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

🤝 Good Companions

BeetOnionCeleryCucumber

⚠️ Avoid Planting Near

StrawberryTomatoPepper

🤝

Full Companion Planting Guide for Napa Cabbage

See which plants help Napa Cabbage thrive, which to keep away, and raised bed layout tips →

🛠️ Supplies You'll Need

🌱 Seed Starting Trays 🪴 Seed Starting Mix 💡 Grow Lights 🌡️ Heat Mat 🪵 Raised Garden Bed 🌍 Vegetable Garden Soil 🛠️ Hand Trowel Set 🚿 Watering Can

* Affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

🌾 Seed Saving Guide

🟡 Moderate

✅ Open-pollinated — seeds grow true to parent

When to Harvest Seed

Allow heads to bolt in spring heat. Harvest seed pods when tan and dry.

Processing

Thresh dried seed stalks, winnow to separate seeds.

Seed Viability

Up to 4 years when stored cool, dark, and dry.

Pro Tip

Brassica rapa — crosses with bok choy, turnip, and other rapa crops. Isolate by 300 feet.

🪴

Raised Bed Planting Guides

A 4×8 bed fits 14 plants of Napa Cabbage. See plant counts, spacing grids, and companion pairings for every bed size →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Napa Cabbage in Berkeley, California? +

In Berkeley (Zone 10a), start Napa Cabbage seeds indoors around Sunday, December 14, 2025 and transplant outdoors around Sunday, February 8, 2026.

What is the last frost date for Berkeley, California? +

The average last spring frost date for Berkeley, California (ZIP 94708) is around Sunday, January 25, 2026. This is based on NOAA climate normals for USDA Zone 10a.

How long does Napa Cabbage take to grow? +

Napa Cabbage typically matures in about 70 days from transplanting. In Berkeley, that means you can expect harvest around Sunday, February 8, 2026 plus 70 days.

Should I start Napa Cabbage indoors or direct sow in California? +

Napa Cabbage should be started indoors 6 weeks before your last frost date. In Berkeley, that means starting around Sunday, December 14, 2025.

📚 More Napa Cabbage Planting Guides

🗺️

Napa Cabbage in California

Zone-by-zone breakdown · Full state guide

→ 🌡️

Zone 10a Napa Cabbage Guide

All cities in your zone · Avg dates

→

Other Plants for Berkeley

Blackberry Blueberry Raspberry Strawberry Basil Chamomile Chives Cilantro Dill Lavender Lemon Balm Marjoram Mint Oregano Parsley Rosemary Sage Tarragon Thyme Acorn Squash Artichoke Arugula Asparagus Beefsteak Tomato Beet Bell Pepper Bok Choy Broccoli Brussels Sprout Butternut Squash Cabbage Cantaloupe Carrot Cauliflower Cayenne Pepper Celery Cherry Tomato Chili Pepper Collard Green Common Bean Cucumber Eggplant Endive Fennel Garlic Grape Tomato Green Bean Habanero Pepper Head Lettuce Heirloom Tomato Honeydew Melon Jalapeño Pepper Kale Kohlrabi Leaf Lettuce Leek Lima Bean Mustard Okra Onion Parsnip Pea Poblano Pepper Pole Pea Potato Pumpkin Radicchio Radish Rhubarb Roma Tomato Rutabaga Serrano Pepper Shallot Snap Pea Snow Pea Spaghetti Squash Spinach Squash Sweet Corn Sweet Potato Swiss Chard Tomato Turnip Watermelon Zucchini Sunflower Marigold Zinnia Nasturtium Cosmos Echinacea (Coneflower) Petunia Black-eyed Susan Apple Tree Pear Tree Peach Tree Plum Tree Sweet Cherry Tree Lemon Tree Borage Lemongrass Ginger Stevia Tomatillo Edamame Fava Bean Mâche Mizuna Sorrel Shishito Pepper Banana Pepper Watermelon Radish Popcorn Broccoli Raab Catnip Valerian Lemon Verbena Bee Balm Anise Lovage Chervil Summer Savory Dahlia Snapdragon Pansy Sweet Pea Morning Glory Hollyhock Larkspur Bachelor Button Columbine Impatiens Salvia (Annual) Sweet Alyssum Celosia Lupine Verbena Elderberry Grape Vine Red Currant Gooseberry Serviceberry Fig Tree Avocado Tree Persimmon Tree Olive Tree

Growing Napa Cabbage in Zone 10a

Napa Cabbage (Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis) is a popular garden vegetable. In Berkeley, California, which is in USDA Hardiness Zone 10a, you should start seeds indoors around Sunday, December 14, 2025.

Your average last frost date is Sunday, January 25, 2026. Plan to transplant your Napa Cabbage seedlings outdoors around Sunday, February 8, 2026, about 2 weeks after your last frost date.