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 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

Your comments and tips

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01 Apr 17, Kathi (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
How well do Wombok cabbage (Chinese cabbage) grow in Sub tropical climate? Any special requirement?
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04 Apr 17, Giovanni (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Chinese cabbage generally likes cooler conditions but can be planted in August and September in sub-tropical climates. Sow the seed directly into the ground and thin or transplant seedlings. Germination is fairly quick .
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24 Mar 17, joel masola (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
can i grow cabbage in the same farm apart together with Tomatoes and spinach
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24 Mar 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)
There is no reason why not. All the best with your vegetable growing!
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21 Feb 17, Dorothy Geoffrey (Australia - temperate climate)
CAN I BUY RED CABBAGE SEEDS IN AUSTRALIA? BETTER STILL DOES ANYONE IN AUSTRALIA GROW THEM? Regards Dorothy Geoffrey
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22 Feb 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Red cabbage seed is readily available from online or mail order seed companies. Search 'vegetable seeds' on the internet and you will find quite a number of seed companiees that advertise it. Trust this helps.
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31 Jan 17, Kerry (Australia - temperate climate)
Can a drum cabbage be grown from sprouting core, the core has sent out roots not sure if I can put in garden, unfortunately sandy soil so do I need to add anything, I use liquid fertilizer on all my garden and I will not use any chemicals
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04 Feb 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)
A drum cabbage grown from a core will grow but will run up to flower and seed. The leaves can still be used as it grows and you can save the seed which germinaates very readily. yYou could use some of the seed for your next crop and put some on a tray of cotton wool and clip them with the scissors at 2 leaf stage to use as microgreens. Trust this helps
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21 Jan 17, Peter (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hello Does anyone know where I can get pontoise cabbage seeds or seedlings? Thank you
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28 Dec 16, tom green (New Zealand - temperate climate)
what is the best way to protect our cabbages from caterpillars that leave holes all over the leaves.we have tried derris dust but to no avail.
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Showing 121 - 130 of 234 comments
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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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