When to Plant Cabbage in Hilo, Hawaii (96721)

Location

Hilo, Hawaii

ZIP Code

96721

USDA Zone

12b

Last Frost

Thursday, January 1, 2026

📅 Your 2026 Planting Dates

Start Seeds Indoors

Thursday, November 20, 2025

Transplant Outdoors

Thursday, January 1, 2026

Based on last frost Thursday, January 1, 2026 · Zone 12b

Pro tip: Start Cabbage seeds indoors 6 weeks before your last frost date, then transplant outdoors around Thursday, January 1, 2026.

🌿 Plant Details

Scientific Name Brassica oleracea var. capitata

Days to Maturity 70 days

Mature Height 12-18"

Spread 24"

Type Head

Fruit Size Large (2-5 lb head)

☀️ Growing Requirements

☀️

Sun

Full Sun to Partial Shade

💧

Water

Regular (1-1.5 inches/week)

↔️

Spacing

18" apart

🌱

Planting Depth

0.5" deep

Seeds typically germinate in 4-10 days

Ready to Plant Cabbage in Hilo?

Get your seeds now so they're ready by Thursday, November 20, 2025.

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🤝 Good Companions

CeleryDillOnionPotatoChamomile

⚠️ Avoid Planting Near

StrawberryTomatoGrape

See the full companion planting guide for Cabbage →

🛠️ 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

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Common Cabbage Varieties

Popular cultivars to look for at your local nursery or seed supplier.

Golden Acre

green 63d

Small, early-maturing green cabbage ideal for home gardens; ready in 63 days.

Red Acre

red 76d

Compact red cabbage with dense heads and excellent color; great for slaws and pickling.

Savoy Perfection

savoy 90d

Crinkled-leaf savoy cabbage with milder, more complex flavor than smooth-leaf types.

January King

winter 200d

Cold-hardy heirloom with beautiful blue-green leaves tinged purple; survives heavy frost.

🌾 Seed Saving Guide

🔴 Difficult

✅ Open-pollinated — seeds grow true to parent

When to Harvest Seed

Cut an X in the head to allow seed stalk to push through. Harvest seed pods when tan.

Processing

Thresh dried seed stalks, winnow to separate seeds.

Seed Viability

Up to 5 years when stored cool, dark, and dry.

Pro Tip

B. oleracea — crosses with broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower. Requires 1000-foot isolation.

🪴

Raised Bed Planting Guides

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

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Cabbage in Hilo, Hawaii? +

In Hilo (Zone 12b), start Cabbage seeds indoors around Thursday, November 20, 2025 and transplant outdoors around Thursday, January 1, 2026.

What is the last frost date for Hilo, Hawaii? +

The average last spring frost date for Hilo, Hawaii (ZIP 96721) is around Thursday, January 1, 2026. This is based on NOAA climate normals for USDA Zone 12b.

How long does Cabbage take to grow? +

Cabbage typically matures in about 70 days from transplanting. In Hilo, that means you can expect harvest around Thursday, January 1, 2026 plus 70 days.

Should I start Cabbage indoors or direct sow in Hawaii? +

Cabbage should be started indoors 6 weeks before your last frost date. In Hilo, that means starting around Thursday, November 20, 2025.

📚 More Cabbage Planting Guides

🗺️

Cabbage in Hawaii

Zone-by-zone breakdown · Full state guide

→ 🌡️

Zone 12b Cabbage Guide

All cities in your zone · Avg dates

→

Other Plants for Hilo

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 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 Napa Cabbage 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 Cabbage in Zone 12b

Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) is a popular garden vegetable. In Hilo, Hawaii, which is in USDA Hardiness Zone 12b, you should start seeds indoors around Thursday, November 20, 2025.

Your average last frost date is Thursday, January 1, 2026. Plan to transplant your Cabbage seedlings outdoors around Thursday, January 1, 2026, about 0 weeks after your last frost date.