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Cabbage

Cabbage

Brassica oleracea

vegetablebiennial

Cool-season biennial vegetable grown as an annual; major commercial brassica suitable for Zones 3-9, with high yields in fertile, well-drained soils. Requires even moisture and split nitrogen applications around 150 lb/ac.

28/30

Crop Snowflake Score

Gross Revenue
$8,630

/acre

Net Return
$1,800

/acre

Price Trend
stable
Establishment Cost
$1,500

/acre

Crop Insurance
Available
Years to Production
0

years

Overview

Growing Season

Plant
April-May (spring crop, 4-6 weeks before last frost); July (fall crop, 10-12 weeks before first hard frost) – April-May (spring crop, 4-6 weeks before last frost); July (fall crop, 10-12 weeks before first hard frost)
Harvest
June-July (spring); Sept-Oct (fall) – June-July (spring); Sept-Oct (fall)
Frost-free days
100+

Yield

Typical yield
430 cwt/acre
Productive lifespan
1 years
Labor
265 hrs/acre
96%

Market Fit

5/6

Active Regional Buyers

1 active buyer on record purchasing this crop.

Price Trend Stable/Up

3-year price trend recorded as "increasing".

Supply Below Demand

4 of 6 documented channels rate viability "strong". Sold into regional rather than national markets, vegetable supply here generally trails that demand.

Multiple Buyer Channels

6 of 6 documented market channels rate viable or better (wholesale, retail, farmers_market, csa). Multiple independent routes to market.

Value-Added Potential

4 viable direct-market channels (farmers_market, csa, restaurant, direct_to_consumer). Supports value-added and margin capture beyond wholesale.

Market Growth Projected

Mature vegetable market; growth over a 5-year horizon is expected to track population rather than outpace it.

Market Channels

wholesale · Wholesale is the dominant channel for cabbage: long storage life (months in refrigerated or CA storage), high yield per acre, and stable year-round demand make it well-suited to grading, palletization, and distribution through packers and terminal markets. Requires USDA grading for premium outlets.
retail · Grocery chains and independent retailers absorb large volumes of cabbage year-round. Green, red, and savoy types each have established retail demand. Consistent supply, sizing, and food-safety certification (GAP, often GFSI) are required for chain accounts.
farmers_market · Fall- and winter-harvested cabbage is a staple of late-season farmers markets, where it complements storage crops (squash, onions, potatoes). Specialty types — savoy, napa, pointed varieties — command premiums over commodity green cabbage.
csa · Cabbage is a CSA workhorse: it stores well in the share box, tolerates a range of delivery conditions, and supplies kraut, slaw, and cooking use through late-season shares. Popular for fall and winter CSA extensions.
restaurant · Local restaurants purchase cabbage for slaws, kraut, kimchi, rolls, and Asian cuisine. Specialty varieties (napa, savoy) and heirloom types are particularly attractive to chef-driven accounts. Delivery can be weekly due to long shelf life.
direct_to_consumer · Farm stand and on-farm market sales work well given cabbage’s storage life. Value-added products — fresh kraut, kimchi, fermented slaw — can substantially raise per-head revenue where a licensed processing kitchen is available.

Climate Fit

6/6

Hardiness Zone Match

Crop tolerates zones 3-9; region spans 5-6. Overlaps.

GDD Sufficient

Crop needs 2500 GDD (base 50F); region accumulates 2500+. Sufficient.

Precipitation Compatible

Crop needs ~18 in; region receives ~38 in/yr. Compatible, irrigation available as supplement.

Frost-Free Season OK

Crop needs 120 frost-free days; region provides ~180. Sufficient.

Chill Hours Met

Not applicable — biennial crop has no winter chill requirement.

Climate Trend Favorable

Crop spans 7 hardiness zones (3-9). Wide adaptive range buffers against warming trend.

Fit by region

The farm matcher, run on each region's cited climate normals. Soil and site are not included here; add your own on the match page.

Match your farm
Finger Lakeszone 5b/6a · 2,200 GDD · 145 frost-free days · 38.29" rain

No limiting condition found. 5 criteria evaluated, 1 not yet researched; 100% cited.

Strong fit
100/100
Heat accumulation (GDD base 50F)Frost-free seasonRainfallHigh-severity risksKnown buyers
Lake Erie Concord Grape Beltzone 6a/6b/7a · 2,923 GDD · 185 frost-free days · 41.09" rain

No limiting condition found. 5 criteria evaluated, 1 not yet researched; 100% cited.

Strong fit
100/100
Heat accumulation (GDD base 50F)Frost-free seasonRainfallHigh-severity risksKnown buyers
Chautauqua Uplands (Allegheny Plateau)zone 6a · 2,364 GDD · 158 frost-free days · 45.93" rain

No limiting condition found. 5 criteria evaluated, 1 not yet researched; 100% cited.

Strong fit
100/100
Heat accumulation (GDD base 50F)Frost-free seasonRainfallHigh-severity risksKnown buyers

Climate envelope & site

What the farm matcher compares your conditions against.

Climate envelope

Hardiness zone
n/a
Frost-free season
100+ days
Heat (GDD base 50°F)
not yet recorded
Winter chill
n/a
Rainfall
19.7–98.4 in/yr

Below the minimum, irrigation is needed; above the maximum the crop fails.

Soil pH target
6.0–6.8

Extension lime target; within 1.0 of it is correctable.

Site & structure

Spring frost at bloom
n/a
Needs cold-air drainage
n/a
Shade tolerance
partial
Mature height
not yet recorded
Rooting depth
not yet recorded
Wind exposure tolerance
not yet recorded
Workable slope
not yet recorded

Height, rooting depth and shade tolerance are the inputs an alley or guild layout needs.

Soil Compatibility

Soil Texture

loam (ideal)silt_loam (ideal)clay_loam (suitable)sandy_loam (suitable)silty_clay_loam (suitable)sandy_clay_loam (suitable)loamy_sand (marginal)sand (poor)clay (marginal)silty_clay (marginal)

Drainage

well_drained (ideal)moderately_well_drained (ideal)somewhat_excessively_drained (suitable)somewhat_poorly_drained (marginal)excessively_drained (marginal)poorly_drained (poor)very_poorly_drained (poor)

Infrastructure Fit

6/6

Equipment Compatible

2 of 11 documented equipment items are crop-specific (18%) against a catalog median of 29%. Most needs are met by general row-crop or orchard equipment.

Storage Available

3 documented storage routes; at least one (Regular cold storage) is reachable with conventional on-farm or third-party facilities.

Irrigation Compatible

Requires ~18 in. Deliverable with conventional drip or overhead irrigation.

Field Layout Suitable

Suited to the small-to-mid-size fragmented parcels typical of the region.

Labor Availability

Labor requirement not recorded. Catalog 75th percentile is 250 hr/ac.

Processing Proximity

1 processor/cooperative buyer on record for this crop, 1 within NY/PA/OH.

Equipment Requirements

planting

Compact Tractor (25-50 HP)Required

General purpose tractor for tillage, bed preparation, and cultivation. 30-50 HP recommended.

$22,000
Moldboard Plow or Chisel PlowRequired

Deep tillage to incorporate residue and prepare seedbed. Plow at least 1 month before planting.

$3,000
Transplanter (Water Wheel Type)Optional

Mechanical transplanter for setting transplants at correct spacing. Water wheel provides water at transplant.

$4,000
Precision Seeder (for direct seeding)Optional

For direct-seeded cabbage. Most growers use transplants, but direct seeding reduces costs for large acreages.

$3,500

irrigation

Drip Irrigation SystemRequired

Per-acre. Drip preferred to reduce foliar disease. Cabbage needs 1-1.5 inches water per week.

$2,500

spraying

Boom SprayerRequired

PTO-driven boom sprayer for pesticide and fungicide applications. Essential for caterpillar and disease management.

$3,000

harvesting

Harvest KnivesRequired Specialized

Per-worker. Sharp curved cabbage knives for cutting heads. Stainless steel preferred for food safety.

$50
Harvest Aid / Picking ConveyorOptional Specialized

Tractor-mounted conveyor reducing carrying and back strain. Justified for operations over 5 acres.

$15,000
Field Bins and WagonsRequired

Bulk bins and tractor-pulled wagons for field transport. Padding reduces bruising.

$1,500

cultivation

Cultivator / Sweep CultivatorRequired

Tractor-mounted for mechanical weed control between rows. Essential for organic production.

$2,000

general

Floating Row CoversOptional

Per-acre cost for spunbond fabric. Excellent flea beetle and caterpillar exclusion on transplants. Reusable 2-3 seasons.

$500

Storage Requirements

Regular cold storage

Temperature

32–32°F

Humidity

98–100%

Max Storage

180 days

Controlled atmosphere (CA)

Temperature

32–32°F

Humidity

95–98%

Max Storage

270 days

Ambient/field heat

Temperature

35–50°F

Max Storage

21 days

Financial Return

5/6

Revenue Above Average

Gross revenue $9,500/ac vs catalog median $6,000/ac. Above median.

Input Costs Acceptable

Annual operating cost $6,300/ac vs catalog 75th percentile $6,300/ac. Within typical range.

Payback Period OK

Reaches full production in 0 years. Acceptable payback.

Insurance Available

Federal crop insurance or an equivalent risk product is available.

Revenue Per Labor Hour

Cannot compute — labor hours not recorded. Catalog median is $13.16/hr.

Grants/Subsidies

Vegetable crops are eligible under the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.

Economics Breakdown

Avg Price/Unit$20/$/cwt
Gross Revenue/Acre$8,630
Annual Operating Cost—/acre
Establishment Cost$1,500/acre
Total Input Cost—/acre
Net Return/Acre$1,800
Revenue/Labor Hour—
Crop Insurance Available

Source: USDA NASS Vegetables 2025 Summary (February 2026), New York state tables - cabbage price per cwt, all utilization. (Corrected 2026-08-28: the previous string credited AgMRC and a "Cornell Vegetable Program NY 2024 grower price reference"; 19.70 is the NASS New York 2025 figure, not a 2024 one.) (2025)

Risk Profile

6/6

Manageable Pest/Disease

3 of 9 documented risks are high-severity (33%) against a catalog median of 36%. Risk load is manageable by conventional IPM.

Market Diversified

6 viable market channels of 6 documented, plus 1 named buyer. Not dependent on a single outlet.

Low Establishment Risk

0 years to full production at $1,500/ac establishment cost. Low establishment exposure.

Climate Resilient

Tolerates zones 3-9 (7 zones). Broad tolerance indicates resilience to seasonal variability.

Regulatory Burden Low

No crop-specific licensing or reporting regime beyond standard food-safety and pesticide rules.

Diversifies Portfolio

Adds a vegetable revenue stream distinct from the region's grape-dominated base.

Known Risks

disease

Black Rot (Xanthomonas campestris)high

Bacterial disease causing V-shaped yellow to brown lesions from leaf margins. Darkened veins diagnostic. Can cause complete crop loss. Seed-borne.

Clubroot (Plasmodiophora brassicae)high

Soil-borne pathogen causing swollen, distorted roots. Plants wilt on hot days and stunt. Persists in soil 10+ years.

Downy Mildew (Peronospora parasitica)moderate

Yellow patches on upper leaves with gray-purple fuzzy growth underneath. Damaging in cool, moist Regional spring and fall conditions.

Alternaria Leaf Spotmoderate

Dark brown to black circular lesions with concentric rings on older leaves. Reduces head quality and storage life.

pest

Imported Cabbageworm (Pieris rapae)high

Green caterpillars feed on leaves and bore into heads, contaminating with frass. Present throughout growing season in the growing region.

Cabbage Looper (Trichoplusia ni)moderate

Green looping caterpillars feed on leaves and bore into heads. Multiple generations per season. Often found with cabbageworm.

Flea Beetlesmoderate

Small jumping beetles creating shot-hole damage on leaves. Most damaging to young transplants. Can transmit viral diseases.

Cabbage Aphids (Brevicoryne brassicae)moderate

Waxy gray-green aphids forming dense colonies causing curling and stunting. Honeydew leads to sooty mold.

climate

Head Splitting from Excess Rainmoderate

Rapid water uptake after dry spells causes mature heads to split. Regional summer thunderstorms can trigger this.

Nutritional Yield

USDA FoodData Central
Profile based on Cabbage, raw (head form)
Edible mass per acre15,603 kg
Computed: 430 cwt/acre × 45.36 kg/unit × 80% edible

Macronutrients

NutrientPer 100 gPer acre
Calories25 kcal3,900,874 kcal
Protein1.3 g199,725 g
Total fat0.1 g15,603 g
Carbohydrates5.8 g905,003 g
Fiber2.5 g390,087 g
Sugar3.2 g499,312 g

Key micronutrients

Iron
0.5 mg /100g
73,336 mg / acre
Calcium
40 mg /100g
6,241,398 mg / acre
Potassium
170 mg /100g
26,525,943 mg / acre
Vitamin C
36.6 mg /100g
5,710,880 mg / acre
Vitamin A
98 IU /100g
15,291,426 IU / acre
Folate
43 mcg /100g
6,709,503 mcg / acre

Uncertainty: Per-acre values are estimates that compound the yield range, edible-fraction assumption, and a single representative nutrient panel. Treat them as order-of-magnitude planning numbers, not nutritional advice. Confidence: high.

Ecosystem Services

Ecosystem service data pending.

The next research-agent rotation will document this crop's contributions to pollinator support, soil health, water quality, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration.

Cultivars

Named varieties and what the sources say sets each apart. A cultivar-specific zone, chill or maturity figure overrides the species value above.

No cultivars recorded yet for this crop.

Grows With / Avoid Near

Documented interactions with other catalog crops — shared pests, allelopathy, rotation effects, alley and understory pairings — for companion, guild and rotation planning. Plan a combination with Cabbage →

Avoid near, or plan around (52)

Grows with (9)

Tolerates (1)

Direction matters: a rotation benefit of A before B says nothing about B before A. Interactions are documented pairs only; absence is a research gap, not a clean bill.

Nearby Buyers

Radius from Lake Erie Concord Grape Belt:
No registered buyers for this crop within 50 miles.

Data Sources

Every data point on this page is traceable to its source. Below you'll find the complete provenance trail — which sources were used, when data was last verified, and a full change history.

Primary sources: Data sourced from Cornell Cooperative Extension, Penn State Extension, USDA resources, and regional research.

Economics data year: 2025 · Basis: lake erie View economics source →

73 tracked changes across 9 data categories

Core Crop Data

Oct 1, 20261 entry
Region-neutral cleanup audit
Apr 16, 20261 entry
internal_recompute
Apr 16, 20262 entries
Apr 16, 20264 entries

Equipment Requirements

Region-neutral cleanup
Apr 16, 20261 entry

Risks & Threats

Region-neutral cleanup
Apr 16, 20263 entries
Crop Picker

by Every.Farm

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Your Location

  • Lake Erie Concord Grape Belt
  • NY / PA
  • United States
  • Zone 6a

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Experimental research database. AI-assisted, may contain errors. Not formal agricultural, financial, or planting advice. Verify with your local extension service before making decisions.

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