Is it safe to plant my cabbage palm seeds and seedlings in the ground?

[Palm Tree lover]

Hi everyone,

I’m planning to plant my cabbage palm seedlings and seeds in my unheated greenhouse. Is it too early to plant them outside? The weather has been on the mild side but fluctuates. I live in zone 6b in Central Jersey. I got most of these sabal seeds in New Smyrna Beach, Florida and a few outside of a rest area in Port Saint Lucie, Florida off of I-95 back in early November 2024.  Any recommendations? 
 

Thank you! 
 

 

[DTS]

  On 2/28/2025 at 3:10 AM, Palm Tree lover said:

Hi everyone,

I’m planning to plant my cabbage palm seedlings and seeds in my unheated greenhouse. Is it too early to plant them outside? The weather has been on the mild side but fluctuates. I live in zone 6b in Central Jersey. I got most of these sabal seeds in New Smyrna Beach, Florida and a few outside of a rest area in Port Saint Lucie, Florida off of I-95 back in early November 2024.  Any recommendations? 
 

Thank you! 
 

 

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I don't know the climate there, but I would wait until Late April/ Early May, or just pot them up until they get to a decent size before planting them

[NC-Key-Bar]

It’s too early. And unfortunately, Sabals do so poorly at being transplanted, it’s not 100% chance it survives at all. I would plant in like a 5 gallon pot, where they can stay for a while. And transplant after 2 years. They will need a solid root system and more vegetation to make it through winter. 
 

im zone 8a. Here’s my 2 year old palmetto In pot for 1 year, went in ground April 24.  

 

[Palm Tree lover]

  On 2/28/2025 at 3:30 AM, DTS said:

I don't know the climate there, but I would wait until Late April/ Early May, or just pot them up until they get to a decent size before planting them

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Hi DTS,

Yes, I agree. I plan to put the palm seeds and seedlings in the ground around the end of April.

Thanks!

[Palm Tree lover]

  On 2/28/2025 at 1:26 PM, NC-Key-Bar said:

It’s too early. And unfortunately, Sabals do so poorly at being transplanted, it’s not 100% chance it survives at all. I would plant in like a 5 gallon pot, where they can stay for a while. And transplant after 2 years. They will need a solid root system and more vegetation to make it through winter. 
 

im zone 8a. Here’s my 2 year old palmetto In pot for 1 year, went in ground April 24.  

 

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Hi NC-Key-Bar,

Thanks for the advice. I will just experiment with the palm seeds and seedlings. I’ll plant them later this spring. That’s a nice healthy Sabal palmetto. 

[D Palm]

I germinated 10 Sabal Uresanas in spring 2017. Planted Summer 2017. 1 of 10 now has 4 fronds, about 3 feet tall, no trunk and no signs of trunking. 9 of 10 died. North Florida.

Good Luck and keep us posted!

[Chester B]

If you want to have a better chance of success, I would pot them up and plant them when they reach 5 gallon size or larger.  Small seedlings can be finicky even in areas within their zone rating.

I'm planting at around 2'+ in size in zone 9B.