Growing Cabbage

Brassica sp. : Brassicaceae / the mustard or cabbage family

Mar	Apr	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep
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

There are many varieties of cabbage.

Those which stand winter weather usually have darker leaves and a stronger flavour, e.g. Savoy.

Red cabbage is grown in a similar way to green varieties.

In temperate climates ff you plant a selection of types you can have cabbage growing all year round.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Cabbage

Young spring cabbage can be chopped and added to salad greens.
Steaming preserves the goodness and flavour of cabbage.
Can also be used in stir-fry.
Red cabbage chopped and cooked with brown sugar, red wine, onions, vinegar and stock is served with boiled bacon or pork.

Your comments and tips

10 Feb 24, ER (USA - Zone 7b climate): What does plant seeds "undercover" mean?
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15 Feb 24, Liz (Gardenate) (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate): Young seedlings can be affected by sudden changes of temperature. To prevent this seedtrays are usually kept under cover for a few weeks. Any area which mantains even, frost-free, temperatures 24 hours will do. e.g. Unheated greenhouses, a covered area close to the house, or small frames covered with frostcloth or with a piece of fabric like old bed sheets. If possible put the trays above ground level. Too much strong sunlight can do as much damage as cold nights to seedlings.
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14 Feb 24, Domanique (Canada - Zone 5b Temperate Warm Summer climate): Plant undercover in seed trays (with a dome or other thing like that)
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26 Jun 23, (USA - Zone 6b climate): When is it best to plant cabbages and kale in zones 6b and 7a? And bok choy in these same zones?
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28 Jun 23, (USA - Zone 6b climate): In zone 6 sow Bok Choy seeds in April, Kale seeds in July and August, and Cabbage seeds in April, July, or August. For zone 7a, Cabbage seeds are best sown in January, February, March, August, or September, while Kale seeds thrive when sown in February, March, or August. Bok choy seeds should be sown in August or September for optimal growth.
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19 Jan 23, Theresa (USA - Zone 8a climate): Planting cabbage this weekend hopefully does not get too warm too quick.
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02 Oct 22, Cammie (USA - Zone 4b climate): What varieties of cabbage should I plant now?
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03 Oct 22, (USA - Zone 4b climate): Any. What you want to eat.
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10 Feb 22, Theresa (USA - Zone 8a climate): Live in zone 8A Midlands SC but right next to coastal , It's Feb 10, I'm confused about when to plant Cabbage, If Cabbage does well over winter why not now before it gets too hot? . I'm going to try. I put just 12 seeds in pots for transplants, AND going to try seeds in ground today or tomorrow. Any midlands of SC out there?
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25 Jun 22, Julie (USA - Zone 8a climate): Also Midland's area (30 minutes north east of Columbia). Here it is late June and I just considered cabbage my garden. I guess I'm going to start some seeds inside late next month then more in late August before moving to the garden in late September. I'll call it an experiment. BTW, how did yours do?
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Hi Mike, A good tip with your compost is to mix 1 part of greens such as your plant residue & grass clippings (Nitrogen), with the same amount of brown material such as dried leaves, especially gum tree leaves & trigs (Carbon) mulched up in the mower, very important to have equal parts for a good balance, I rake up leaves & twigs around the parks & schools and around stormwater drains. Grass clippings & plant residue are great but full of nitrogen which will give you leafy caulis but no heads. Also, worm pee is very important, worm pee mixed with water @ 9:1 ratio & poured around the base of each plant every 3 weeks conditions the soil which releases the nutrients out of the soil for the roots to feed off, I start my worm pee after seedlings emerge in the seed trays, I keep my worm farm moist & I catch 1 litre a week, but next year I will be increasing that to 2 litres a week. I use my worm castings at planting time plus a side dressing every 2 months around my plants & use my worm pee as my tea. I have clay soil over here on the east coast and it took me years to get it friable but it paid off in the long run. Also, mulching around you plants is very important for moisture retention & worm activity, especially sandy soils. Dried gum leaves are so important in any soil as Carbon is a very important element for healthy growth. PS: Space your cabbages & Caulis & you will have great results. BR...….Steve

- Steve Donovan

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Growing Cabbage

Brassica sp. : Brassicaceae / the mustard or cabbage family

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Cabbage

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