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

28 May 10, Sarah (Australia - temperate climate)
My small chinese cabbage seedlings leaves are turning yellow. What do i need to add to the soil?
17 Apr 10, Brian Palfreyman (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Sorry Annalisa 18/sept 09 Ii ve in Caboolture ,theres no way cabbages grow well in the summer months in Brizzie,way to hot,and any that do survive 30-35oc go to seed real quick
15 Feb 10, David R (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I was a small crops farmer for 20 years growing cabbages, the trick to keeping grubs out is to spray twice a week for 2 weeks from the time of transplanting & then once a week after till they are half grown then only spray if Grubs appear till Harvest
26 Jan 10, Barb (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Brian, I find my cool-climate crops like cabbages and kale get a lot of pests at this time of year. I think they're weakened by the hot weather, which makes them more susceptible to pests.
19 Jan 10, Tam (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
for caterpillars or well prevention. Get an old ice cream container and cut into 2-3 cm bits, punch a small hole with a nail, run string thru. string along the site of your cabbage or broccoli, spread out plastic bits along string..... the point is when the little white butterfly comes along to drop off her eggs she see's all these other white fluttery things and assumes that the area is over-populated, too much competion for her babies and will go deposit her eggs else where................I have never had to use powders or chemicals. (you will still get the odd chew hole in leaves, i dont think this is a big deal)
18 Jan 10, Brian Latta (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
i tried growing cabbages in Brisbane and found they grew amazingly fast to Tasmania but i had major insect problems, tried white oil spray and it didnt do much. Would rather use natural products does anyone have advice on this.
11 Nov 09, Julie O'Brien (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
My cabbages have grown well with very large open green leaves, but no heads. What do I do? Thanks
20 Sep 09, David (Australia - temperate climate)
My wombok did the same last year. I planted some in Jan in partial shade (sun in the morning shade from about 1pm onward) did OK not as large or as green as winter grown but still pretty good. Cavelo Nero (Tuscan Cabbage) in partial shade (beside the wombook) did better.
18 Sep 09, Annalisa (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Okay, my wombok, Chinese Cabbage, bolted (went to flower)... but it says to plant all-year round? I'm in suburb Brisbane. It's only Sept. not even HOT yet? Everything else says it needs to be cooler or it WILL bolt. What should I do? Should I plant more (planning on it, trying to feed a family of 4 with monthly planting) or will they just go to flower during summer? Would planting another type of cabbage do the trick? *sigh* I love Wombok, buying 1/2 head a week, and was so excited for my first harvest, but now what?
08 Aug 09, Neil (Australia - temperate climate)
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.
Showing 121 - 130 of 152 comments

Hello, I live in Nerriga near Braidwood, New South Wales and have had a failure with my cabbage and cauliflower crops. I grew them in a large igloo covered with cloth (with holes) and our temperature here goes to -7 Centigrade. My cabbages and cauliflowers grew lovely for a while then no hearts in the cabbages and no cauli in the cauliflowers. Only leaves. I gave them sea sol often and watered regularly. Not sure how much water they wanted. They did freeze a few times but went back to normal as the day progressed. Can you help for next time? Thankyou. Kind Regards, Rhonda Richards

- rhonda

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