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Growing Cabbage
Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Cabbage
Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Cabbage
Cabbage is a hardy, leafy vegetable full of vitamins. It can be difficult to grow; it only likes cool temperatures and it can be a magnet for some types of garden pests. Here are some tips for growing cabbages in your garden!
By planning your growing season and providing diligent care, you may have two successful crops in one year, in both spring and fall. Many varieties are available to suit both your growing conditions and taste preferences.
Planting
How to Plant Cabbages
- To prepare soil, till in aged manure or compost.
- Start cabbage seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last spring frost in your area. Consult our Planting Calendar for suggested dates.
- Before planting the seedlings outdoors, harden off the plants over the course of a week.
- Transplant outdoors 2 to 3 weeks before the last expected frost date. If possible, plant on a cloudy day so that the seedlings aren’t subjected to intense sunlight right away.
- Plant 12 to 24 inches apart in rows, depending on the size of head desired. The closer you plant, the smaller the cabbages.
- Because cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower are closely related, and require similar nutrients, it’s best not to plant them together. They are all heavy feeders, depleting the soil faster of required nutrients; plus, they will attract the same pests and diseases. For cabbage, also avoid proximity to strawberries and tomatoes.
- Cabbages can be grown near beans and cucumbers. Check out our chart of plant companions for an expanded list of friends and foes.
Care
How to Grow Cabbages
- When seedlings reach about 5 inches tall, thin to make sure that they are still the desired length apart. (The plants you remove can be transplanted elsewhere in your garden.)
- Mulch thickly around the area to retain moisture and regulate soil temperature.
- Fertilize 3 weeks after transplanting with an all-purpose fertilizer.
- Practice crop rotation with cabbages to avoid a buildup of soil borne diseases.
Pests/Diseases
Some old folklore tells us: Scatter elder leaves over your cabbage to keep the bugs away.
- Imported Cabbageworms: Dill protects all members of the cabbage family by attracting beneficial wasps that kill cabbageworms and other pests.
- Aphids
- Cabbage Root Maggots
- Flea Beetles
- Cutworms
- Splitting
Cabbageworm damage
Harvest/Storage
How to Harvest & Store Cabbages
- Harvest when heads reach desired size and are firm. This will take around 70 days for most green cabbage varieties. Most early varieties will produce 1- to 3-pound heads.
- Cut each cabbage head at its base with a sharp knife. After harvesting, bring inside or put in shade immediately.
- To get two crops from early cabbage plants, 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 them off until only four or so smaller heads remain. When these grow to tennis-ball size, they’ll be perfect for salad.
- After harvesting, remove the entire stem and root system from the soil to prevent disease buildup. Only compost healthy plants; destroy those with maggot infestation.
- Cabbage can be stored in the refrigerator for no more than 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.
Recommended Varieties
- If you are planting for a fall harvest, try red or Chinese cabbage. Good varieties include ‘Ruby Perfection’ and ‘Lei-Choy’.
- For a quick harvest time, try ‘Golden Acre’, ‘Primo’, or ‘Stonehead’.
- ‘Early Jersey Wakefield’ resists splitting.
- Disease-resistant varieties include ‘Blue Vantage’ and ‘Cheers’.
Wit & Wisdom
- Mark Twain once said, “Cauliflower is nothing but cabbage with a college education.” In fact, cabbage is no longer seen so poorly. We now know that this hardy vegetable is antioxidant- and nutrient-rich, and a great addition to any garden!
- For other greens to use in your cuisine, see the Leafy Greens: Health Benefits page and then learn how to grow more of your own salad greens.
Recipes
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Reader Comments
Leave a Comment
Planting
When is the best time to plant cabbage and watermelons in uae (united Arab emirates)
Get rid of worms tip
I love cabbage too.. Just want to share this some tips from my garden visit it at gardenlokadotcom
Cabbage
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
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
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
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
I love planting
how to start commercial cabbage production
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
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
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
i need you help
Selling cabbages to supermarkets
I would like to know what are the requirements for me to sell vagitables(cabbages) to large interprise supermarkets
cabbage production
I want to grow cabbages for cormecial purpose anyone to help me
cabbage
I am trying a new to me cabbage. It is mini cabbage from Bonnie plants....
Supposed to grow about 6-7' heads. I always used DE to keep the bugs away. Seems to work for me. Must reapply after heavy rains. I will plant two in my garden tower to see if it works.
Protecting cabbage
You might try planting dill near your cabbage. It protects by attracting beneficial wasps that kill cabbageworms and other pests. Learn more about dill here: http://www.almanac.com/plant/dill and beneficial wasps and other insects here: http://www.almanac.com/blog/gardening/gardening/beneficial-insects-garden
when to harvest cabbage
I have some large cabbage that could be harvested now, but I would like to leave them for New Years. Now it is supposed to get below freezing, Will that ruin the cabbage? We had a few frost that did nor bother it.
Red Cabbage In SA
Hi All
Where can I find red cabbage in S.A especially around Durban.
Seeds for Durban
It looks like you can order from Seeds for Africa: http://www.seedsforafrica.co.za/search?q=cabbage
My dad is growing cabbage for
My dad is growing cabbage for the first time in our garden! Everything is going great, but we are wondering what to do about the leaves falling from the trees that are falling into the center of the cabbages. We are pulling them out when we see them but we are afraid some are getting wrapped up in the cabbage itself. any suggestions?
You might try placing row
You might try placing row cover or bird netting (both found in garden centers) over your cabbages to catch the leaves. You can prop up the material on stakes (or garden hoops) to either side of the row, if desired, so that the material doesn’t actually touch your crop.
cabbage seedlings
Can cabbage seedlings grow again after the leaves were cut by goats ?
No Kid-ding!
Hi, Tsholofelo: No kidding! (Get it? No kid- … uh, never mind.) Goats love cabbage leaves, which can be bad for them because they will ferment in their gut if they eat enough. If you’re really talking about seedlings being eaten down to the ground, then there’s not much hope. If you’re talking about developing heads of cabbage, they may have a chance if everything isn’t gone. Good luck!
My daughter got a cabbage
My daughter got a cabbage plant at school as an experiment to see who could grow theirs the largest. After the last frost of the year we planted it in our garden. At first it took off great got about 10 inches tall, then the bunnies got to it and ate it down to the ground. You could actually only see a little round circle of the stalk against the ground. That was in mid July, It is now November and that cabbage plant has 2 10 inch heads on it and is looking wonderful. So in my opinion, Yes they can come back.
Salting cabbage heads
I remember my mother and grandmother salting newly formed heads to make the tighten up. Have you heard of this or how much salt to use?
using salt on growing cabbage
We can think of two reasons your ancestors used salt on growing cabbage: 1. to deter caterpillars and 2. to deter magnesium deficiency. By adding some salt to the watering can and sprinkling on young cabbages, it hinders the growth of caterpillars, a destructive pest to cabbage. And you can add Epsom salt to the base of cabbage plants to prevent magnesium deficiency.
cabbage no head
my cabbage doesn't seem to be heading. I planted the cabbage in right season in toronto, and growing well ,but no head is coming out , all leaves are open now only 45 days after planting.
Cabbage Not Heading
The optimum temperature for cabbage growth is 60º to 65ºF (15 to 18ºC). Often, the problem is temperature–too high or too low. Cabbage also needs even moisture supply during head formation. If your plant hasn’t bolted yet, it may eventually form heads. If they do start to flower and bolt, pull them up and try in the fall when the weather is cooler (for most areas). Good luck!
deer and cabbage
we put up an electric fence, but it still doesn't work! The deer raided my garden last night and ate the leaves off all my cauliflower and cabbage. Will these plants grow back, or do I need to plant again?
Cabbage in warm weather
Grandson received a cabbage plant middle of May in school, large head or something. Apparently, from what I am reading should have been done in the Fall(?) Anyway> Temps are now in 80- mid90's, still doing well...and finally beginning to form a head...keeping it in the shade as much as possible so only geting early morning sun. any tips to get it to maturity? assuming another 60 days?
cabbage
How do you encourage the heads to develop.
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