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

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24 Aug 19, D, Daireaire (Australia - temperate climate)
Hello nice people I am mad about cabbage and would like to grow it all year round. Can you advise me which varieties to grow for each season please? Thankyou
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26 Aug 19, Anon (Australia - tropical climate)
Generally people who live in different climate zones can not grow most things all year round. Reason most plants need a certain season - temp range - to grow. Things like too hot, or too cold, windy, chance of severe storms etc these all affect the chances of producing a good crop. Things like tomatoes, corn, egg plant caps need warm weather. Cold weather - cabbage broccoli, some lettuce etc.
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20 Jun 21, Agri (Australia - tropical climate)
Sometimes, you can tweak these constraints and create ur own micro climate. Go for the cabbages.
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25 Jun 19, Graham platt (Australia - temperate climate)
HI,,is it ok too cut off low leaves from my red cabbage while growing,,,,,thanks.
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04 Apr 19, danny (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
to keep pests off my cabbage or other vegs. I cut long strips off old spouting bend over to make cover and then cover with strawberry netting , works real good cheers Danny
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02 May 19, Glen (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hi Danny, can you explain in a bit more detail please? Cabbages and Broccoli I planted last year were a total disaster, I would love to find a good method to grow them Cheers Glen
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03 May 19, Greeb thumb (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Look on the internet on ways to protect crops with netting.
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09 Mar 19, Ken (Australia - temperate climate)
I have beds made from very large plastic drums which I have made waist high frames to keep them in (sturdy). My question is, "how deep does the root system of Red Cabbages go"? I am on the south coast of NSW and most shops do not have red cabbage. I make a lot of stir frys and coleslaw. Thanks
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10 Mar 19, Mike Logan (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
About 30cm would be enough - but I would make them 50cm deep of soil. I take it you may have used the top/bottom of a 200 liter drum. Or you could cut them long ways - more area of garden.
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25 Jan 19, Micahael (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Good day. I have planted cabbage last year in January 2018. Instead of the veg growing into a big bulb (ball like shape) on the ground, it grew upright on a stock. Looking on pictures i can see that it is supposed to grow like a big ball on the ground and not vertically up. What is the reason for that or did does it has to do with the type of seed i bought from the store, as there a different name on the seed packages. Thanks
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Showing 71 - 80 of 225 comments
See comments for all plants

All very nice growing cabbage for the cabbage moth worms to eat! That is my story as reluctant to use chemicals and time consuming removing grubs by hand. How do I keep the pests at bay without chemicals? Would appreciate assistance. Thanks for access to a great website also, although eco-tips for pests would be good too with each plant link.

- Evan

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