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 41°F and 64°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 20 - 30 inches 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

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for USA | for all countries
06 Mar 23, Rob (Australia - temperate climate)
The variety you like eating the most
Reply or Post a new comment
08 Feb 23, Ian (Australia - temperate climate)
Cabbage and Colliflower can they be grown on tubs in hot house
Reply or Post a new comment
19 Jan 23, Theresa (USA - Zone 8a climate)
Planting cabbage this weekend hopefully does not get too warm too quick.
Reply or Post a new comment
02 Oct 22, Cammie (USA - Zone 4b climate)
What varieties of cabbage should I plant now?
Reply or Post a new comment
03 Oct 22, (USA - Zone 4b climate)
Any. What you want to eat.
Reply or Post a new comment
13 Aug 22, Peter Chapman (Australia - temperate climate)
My cabbage are wilting. I have not watered them for months as I am on the Central Coast of NSW and we have had plenty of rain. The plants are mulched and I am wondering if they are holding too much water. Finger test of plants shows they are fairly damp but certainly not flooded. They are in raised beds abouit 20 cm high. Cheers Pete
Reply or Post a new comment
16 Aug 22, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Could be a wilt disease, too much water. I definitely would not have mulched them with all the rain you have had. Depends what your soil is like - clayish or sandy.
Reply or Post a new comment
03 Jul 22, Kenneth Davis (Australia - temperate climate)
Cabbages and Broccoli not forming hearts. Good. soil added potash What is wrong?
Reply or Post a new comment
05 Jul 22, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
If too much fertiliser especially nitrogen they will produce a lot of leaves, They don't need a big amount of potash. They need nitrogen to grow but too much and then all leaf.
Reply or Post a new comment
11 Feb 22, Anonymous of Bundaberg (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Check the calendar planting guide in your climate zone, it tells you when you can plant them.
Reply or Post a new comment
Showing 21 - 30 of 226 comments
See comments for all plants

Regards the eggshells. One of the sexes of the cabbage white butterfly (I presume males) lays on the ground with its wings outstreached to attract a mate. The females intendig to lay eggs have already mated and appear repulsed at the thought of more sex and often fly off. So, expect the best results if you arrange the egg shells to look like the butterflys laying on the ground with their wings outstreached.

- Neil

Please provide your email address if you are hoping for a reply


All comments are reviewed before displaying on the site, so your posting will not appear immediately

Gardenate App

Put Gardenate in your pocket. Get our app for iPhone, iPad or Android to add your own plants and record your plantings and harvests

Planting Reminders

Join 60,000+ gardeners who already use Gardenate and subscribe to the free Gardenate planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About Gardenate | Contact us | Privacy Policy

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.
We cannot help if you are overrun by giant slugs.