Growing Cabbage

Brassica sp. : Brassicaceae / the mustard or cabbage family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
    S     S S S        
      T     T T T      
      P     P P P      

(Best months for growing Cabbage in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed
  • Easy to grow. Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4 weeks. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 5°C and 18°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 50 - 75 cm apart
  • Harvest in 11-15 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Dwarf (bush) beans, beets, celery, cucumber, onions, marigold, nasturtium, rhubarb, aromatic herbs (sage, dill, chamomile, thyme)
  • Avoid growing close to: Climbing (pole) beans, tomato, peppers (chili, capsicum), eggplant (aubergine), strawberry, mustard, parsnip

Your comments and tips

13 May 23, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Dwarf grow to 60cm - climbing grow to 1.2-2.4m.
08 May 23, Anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
A climbing bean could shade cabbage and it would not produce much. Depends where you plant the climbing bean in relation to the sun's position in the sky. Plant tall plants on the southern side of the bed.
04 Mar 23, Sue (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Which variety of cabbage grows best in qld?
27 Apr 23, Lee (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Red Dutch, Sugarloaf, Wombok.
23 Mar 23, Peter Myers (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Copenhagen do well in the subtropics; I have grown them for years. When harvesting, cut below the cabbage, then new smaller cabbages grow from the same root. This year I am trying Primo. I plant seed mid-Feb to mid-Mar, after rain. Transplant a month later. I will be transplanting Primo soon. Got Kale (Blue) out yesterday.
28 Mar 23, EMMA-LOUISE PARRY (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
hello. when do you plant your cabbage seeds please? also what area are you from? im struggling to get cabbage to grow.
07 Mar 23, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
They will all grow good if looked after. Also depends what you want to do with it.
06 Mar 23, Rob (Australia - temperate climate)
The variety you like eating the most
08 Feb 23, Ian (Australia - temperate climate)
Cabbage and Colliflower can they be grown on tubs in hot house
19 Jan 23, Theresa (USA - Zone 8a climate)
Planting cabbage this weekend hopefully does not get too warm too quick.
Showing 11 - 20 of 223 comments

I live in a totally different climate to you. I'm having trouble growing savoy cabbage - probably planting too late and probably too rich a soil and too much water. I have savoy now, been growing for about 10 weeks or more and lots of leaves and little head. Same happened last year. The year before I had great Savoy. We have had very warm winters - in the last month temps have gone from 6-9 at night and mid 20's in the day to 14-18 at night and high 20's and even records of 34 last week in the day. I would suggest prepare your soil well - compost and fert or whatever you use and then plant the plants - don't fert again. Little plants need regular watering but when they become larger cut the watering back to each second or third day - I will have to remember to take my own advice next year.

- Mike

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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