Growing Cabbage

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Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Cabbage

By Catherine Boeckmann
Cabbage Head
St-Design/Getty Images

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Traditionally, cabbage seeds were planted on St. Patrick’s Day in northern zones. Old-time farmers believed that to make them grow well, you needed to plant them while wearing your nightclothes! Here’s our Cabbage Growing Guide with instructions on how to plant and grow this hardy, leafy vegetable—which is packed with vitamins. No PJs required!

About Cabbage

Mark Twain once said, “Cauliflower is nothing but cabbage with a college education.” In fact, cabbage is no longer viewed so poorly. We now know that this hardy vegetable is antioxidant- and nutrient-rich, and a great addition to any garden! See 5 reasons to eat cabbage.

That said, note that cabbage can be challenging to grow for the beginner gardener if you don’t have the right conditions; it only likes cool temperatures and it can be a magnet for some types of garden pests. Rotating the cabbage crop every few years avoids buildup of soilborne diseases.

Follow our guide to plant a successful crop in the spring (and/or fall) and we’ll help you provide the diligent care that cabbage needs.

 

Planting Dates for CABBAGE

Enter a Location

Planting Calendar for all Plants

Planting

When to Plant Cabbage

  • If starting seeds indoors, sow ¼ inch deep 6 to 8 weeks before the last spring frost. Consult our Planting Calendar for suggested dates.
  • For a fall harvest, direct sow seeds outdoors (or plant transplants) in mid- to late summer. If your area is particularly hot and dry, hold off on planting until late summer. Make sure that the young plants don’t dry out in the summer sun’s heat!

Choosing and Preparing a Planting Site

  • Cabbage is a heavy feeder; it quickly depetes the soil of required nutrients.
  • Prepare the soil in advance by mixing in aged manure and/or compost.
  • Soil should be well-draining: roots that stand in water cause heads to split or rot.

How to Plant Cabbage

  • Before planting the seedlings outdoors, harden off the plants over the course of a week.
  • Transplant small plants outdoors on a cloudy afternoon 2 to 3 weeks before the last spring frost date.
  • Plant seedlings 12 to 24 inches apart in rows, depending on the size of head desired. The closer you plant, the smaller the cabbage heads.

Check out this video to learn how to plant cabbages: 

Care

How to Grow Cabbages

  • When seedlings reach about 5 inches tall, thin to leave the desired space between them. If you wish, transplant the thinned seedlings elsewhere.
  • Mulch thickly around the area to retain moisture and regulate soil temperature.
  • Water 2 inches per square foot per week.
  • The optimum soil temperature for growth is 60 to 65° F. Young plants exposed to temperatures below 45°F for a period of time may bolt or form loose heads. Cover plants if cold weather is expected.
  • Fertilize 2 weeks after transplanting with a balanced (10-10-10) fertilizer.
  • Three weeks later, add a nitrogen-rich fertilizer; cabbage needs nitrogen in the early stages.
  • Practice crop rotation with cabbages to avoid a buildup of soil-borne diseases.

Cabbage patch

Pests/Diseases

Some old folklore tells us: Scatter elder leaves over your cabbage to keep the bugs away.

Cabbageworm damage
Cabbageworm damage

Harvest/Storage

How to Harvest Cabbages

  • Harvest when heads reach desired size and are firm. Mature heads left on the stem may split. Days to maturity is around 70 days for most green cabbage varieties and most produce 1- to 3-pound heads.
  • To harvest, cut each cabbage head at its base with a sharp knife. Remove any yellow leaves (retain loose green leaves; they provide protection in storage) and immediately bring the head indoors or place it in shade. Alternatively, pull up the plant (roots and all) and hang it in a moist cellar that reaches near-freezing temperatures.
  • To get two crops, cut the cabbage head out of the plant, leaving the outer leaves and root in the garden. The plant will send up new heads; pinch off those until only four or so smaller heads remain. Harvest when tennis ball-size (perfect for salads!).
  • After harvesting, remove the entire stem and root system from the soil to prevent disease. Only compost healthy plants; destroy any with maggot infestation.

How to Store Cabbages

  • Cabbage can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks, wrapped lightly in plastic. Make sure it is dry before storing. In proper root cellar conditions, cabbage will keep for up to 3 months. See our article on root cellars.
  • Follow this old-time technique to get the most out of your cabbage crop:
    1. In the fall, harvest the entire cabbage plant—stems, head, and roots—enjoying the head as usual and storing the roots in a root cellar through winter. 
    2. As soon as the ground has thawed in spring, plant the roots outdoors. 
    3. Soon, fresh sprouts will form, which can be eaten alone or added to soups, salads, or a dish of your choice.
    4. These replanted cabbages won’t produce full heads, but they should go to seed by the end of summer, providing next year’s round of cabbage seeds!
    • Note: This can also be done indoors on a windowsill in mid- to late winter; keep roots damp and sprouts should form.

Recommended Varieties

Cabbages comes in a range of sizes, shapes, and colors.

  • For an early harvest, try ‘Primo’ or ‘Stonehead.’
  • Quick-maturing ‘Golden Acre’ and ‘Quick Start’ yield 3-pound heads.
  • For Savoy types, try ‘Alcosa’, an early variety, or ‘Wirosa’, a late variety that overwinters as-is in southern gardens but needs protection in the North.
  • ‘Early Jersey Wakefield’ resists splitting. It’s an heirloom, slightly pointed, and 2- to 3-pound heads.
  • ‘Gonzales’ produces softball-sized heads, making it good for small gardens.
  • Disease-resistant varieties include ‘Blue Vantage’ and ‘Cheers’.
  • If you are planting for a fall harvest, try red or Chinese cabbage. Good varieties include ‘Integro’ and ‘Ruby Perfection’ (reds) and ‘Li Ren Choy’ (baby bok choy).

Wit & Wisdom

  • Plant near beans and cucumbers, not near broccoli, cauliflower, strawberries, or tomatoes. Check out our chart of plant companions for an expanded list of friends and foes. 
  • A 127-pound cabbage won first prize at the Alaska State Fair in 2009.

Cabbage: A familiar kitchen-garden vegetable about as large and wise as a man’s head.
—Abrose Bierce (1842–c.1914)

Recipes

Cooking Notes

If boiling cabbage, drop walnuts (shell on) into the water; they will absorb the cabbage’s unpleasant odor.

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Reader Comments

Leave a Comment

sunlight

Submitted by CAROL A ENGLE on March 7, 2021 - 12:43pm

Hi,
I want to know if there is a device that will measure the hrs of sunlight on certain areas of my yard. I do have a lot of trees and several different planting areas I want to make sure I'm choosing the correct locations for certain vegetables. Since we can grow cabbages all year long ( I didnt know that)could they be grown in the same spot as last grown cabbages?

growing in sun

The Editors's picture

Submitted by The Editors on March 11, 2021 - 3:15pm

We are not aware of a device like you describe.

You will get best results if you rotate, or move, your crops from year to year.

 

no heads

Submitted by traclay on February 19, 2021 - 8:09pm

Hi I planted cabbage for the first time last fall. The plants are still there and look fine but never formed a head. I have fertilized, added bone meal and lime, and have them surrounded by hay mulch. They look good, but no heads. I'm going to leave them and see what happens, but any suggestions?

hi, this is Betty, I grow

Submitted by betty on November 13, 2020 - 9:41am

hi, this is Betty, I grow some cabbage in my garden, but these days it's so cold here, and we even welcomed the first snow this year, and it's 21F at night. After that, I found the back of the leaves, there is a crack along the main leaf vein, do you have any idea about it? and what's the possible reason for it? Looking forward to your reply.
Betty

Worm damage on leaves?

Submitted by Belinda Laird on September 16, 2020 - 8:20pm

I have three types of cabbages and millions of little fat black worms. I want to move cabbages into large pots. Can I cut off all damaged leaves? PokCho in terrible shape. NOTHING STOPPING WORMS

Cabbage might not be good

Submitted by Barbara on July 21, 2020 - 1:22pm

I live in NC and my cabbage looks like it’s wilting in the heat it’s been over 90 degrees for the last 2 or 3 weeks I was trying to see if they were going to get bigger but I think I may be too late to pick them now and they are getting holes in them

Cabbage

Submitted by Darcy on June 30, 2020 - 11:15am

Hi there!! This is the first time I have grown cabbage and I planted "consul" cabbage. The plant is quite large and I am just wondering do I need to cut off the larger bottom leaves to promote more head growth?? Thank you in advance!!

remove leaves?

The Editors's picture

Submitted by The Editors on July 2, 2020 - 11:53am

You are advised not to remove the leaves: they provide protection in storage. Read the commentary above for more information about achieving a successful harvest.

Hi, I like your post really I

Submitted by sunil patel on June 11, 2020 - 12:19pm

Hi, I like your post really I have read first-time Thanks for sharing keep up the good work.

farmer

Submitted by salehe on April 1, 2020 - 5:07am

You are good farmers, I like it, let's me try

Why Cabbage and Tomatoes are not compatible, dislike each other

Submitted by Zeynel Tokuoglu on March 26, 2020 - 5:35pm

Hi This is Zeynel from Turkey,
I wonder why Cabbage and Tomatoes are not compatible.
It writes incompatibly in all documents, but I could not see the reason anywhere.
Thanks

Cabbage article

Submitted by patricia warman on January 11, 2020 - 2:25am

I have been gardening for over 65 years and I found your article informative and thoroughly
enjoyable. Thank you for sharing your knowledge in a clear concise manner; I enjoy reading the Almanac and your articles are always informative and thought provoking.
Happy gardening!

problem with cabbages

Submitted by Siphosethu Pascal on December 4, 2019 - 1:22am

Hi I have grown cabbages but they are not forming heads and some form very small heads and bolts quickly. am in Swaziland and we receive temperatures between 15 degrees Celsius and 38 degrees Celsius. please help

Appreciation

Submitted by Isola Oluwatoba on July 26, 2019 - 2:19pm

Thanks for the eye opening . Looking forward to guides for a humble start.

cabbage nursing,transplanting,harvesting and storaging.

Submitted by Sammy on July 15, 2019 - 7:16am

Remarkable practical knowledge and a mile read expertise in crop farming.thanks in advance and continue the spirit of farming education.

Planting

Submitted by Osas on September 6, 2018 - 4:04am

When is the best time to plant cabbage and watermelons in uae (united Arab emirates)

Cabbage

Submitted by Lovella Vickery on May 24, 2018 - 7:30pm

My temperatures are about to go mid 90's. Should I go ahead and cut at a smaller size. Leave the plant to see what happens. Too early for these temps even in oklahoma. Dont want to waste them

Bolting Cabbage

The Editors's picture

Submitted by The Editors on May 25, 2018 - 2:22pm

Yes, if hot temps are expected in your area, it would be a good idea to go ahead and cut the cabbage earlier than usual. Once they’ve bolted, it’s already too late, so better to be safe and harvest early!

WARM temps

Submitted by Katherine Vaughan on June 22, 2018 - 12:22pm

Grandson received a plant in May from school...obviously should have been in the Fall. It is a large head or some type like that(?) growing well, just starting to form head. Temps up to mid 90's. keeping it in the shade as much as possible. any other tips to keep it healthy? have thought of bringing it inside but then no sun. Right now gets morning sun mainly and some peek through until about noon. assume it will be another 40-60 days before it is finished growing. no bolting seen :) Thank you!

Cabbage in summertime

The Editors's picture

Submitted by The Editors on June 22, 2018 - 5:20pm

Cabbage is indeed a cool-weather crop usually transplanted after summer heat has passed. Your instinct about shade are correct. You’ll want some kind of shade netting to keep both the soil and air cooler as well as keep the cabbage from being scorched. For best results, suspend the shade netting several inches above the cabbage letting it rest on some kind of frame.If you haven’t done so already, put mulch on the soil to keep it cool. Of course, water to keep the soil from drying out. Cabbage gets thirsty. If it doesn’t work out, you’ll know it’s not your fault! Hot weather is tough on some plants, just like people!

cabbage

Submitted by sbusiso on November 18, 2017 - 10:50am

I love planting

how to start commercial cabbage production

Submitted by Everistus Ifeanyi on June 13, 2017 - 11:56am

I leave in the temperate region of Africa and want to start cabbage production in a large scale so i need a kind of lecture on how to start so that i can succeed.

Cabbage

Submitted by Anne on August 16, 2017 - 11:47am

Try contacting your "Local or Gov. Department of Agriculture" you can get their contact info @ the Dept. Agriculture website; you could also research other crops; Carrots might be good; being Carrots Greens are edible as well as the Carrot Root;;)AR;;

Help to grow cabbage in Liberia

Submitted by Alex C. Dossen on June 27, 2018 - 5:46am

I want to grow cabbage on a large scale but don't have the financial means to do that.

growing cabbages in south west cameroon

Submitted by mayarh martineso on March 24, 2019 - 3:44am

i need you help

Selling cabbages to supermarkets

Submitted by Thembela on April 17, 2019 - 8:08pm

I would like to know what are the requirements for me to sell vagitables(cabbages) to large interprise supermarkets

cabbage production

Submitted by moses on April 28, 2019 - 10:58am

I want to grow cabbages for cormecial purpose anyone to help me

Commercial cabbage production

Submitted by Timothy Maphosa on May 23, 2019 - 10:53am

Greetings.
I want to become a commercial farmer of cabbages, i need to know on how to start farming. Please assist with the procedure and provide with messures to control the diseases.

Cabbage farmer

Submitted by Michael Morris on June 15, 2019 - 1:04pm

How to grow cabbage, best chemical to used to keep away bats ,worm and diseases in jamaica wi.

Pages

Growing Cabbage

Botanical Name Brassica oleracea (Capitata group)
Plant Type Vegetable
Sun Exposure Full Sun
Soil Type Loamy, Sandy
Soil pH Neutral
Bloom Time
Flower Color
Hardiness Zones 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
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