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

04 May 09, Dawn (Australia - temperate climate)
I was so excited to use the egg shells and get rid of the green catapillar. Now, welcome the grey aphid! After much research I have found that native Aust. ladybirds and lacewings do the trick. After even MORE research I've found where to buy them: (I cannot post a web link) bugs for bugs (dot com, dot au)
19 Apr 09, Dette (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
To Sandra. You can prevent white cabbage fly and others by planting Thyme and other herbs amongst your cabbages. The bugs hate it and the cabbages love it.
19 Apr 09, Dawn (Australia - temperate climate)
I just planted my first ever vege patch with cabbage, colli and broccoli. As I pondered over the "lovely white butterflies" in my garden I had NO IDEA they were cabbage moths! I have since used large pieces of broken egg shell around the plants as they think they are other moths and my plants are now coming back from the sticks they were turned into by the catapillars.
15 Mar 09, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Tamera, Brassicas are things like cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower. Green vegetables which are good for us.
07 Mar 09, Tricia (Australia - temperate climate)
Kaye, I also remember eating what was called 'greens', I asked my Mother and she said they were the outer leaves of cauliflower and cabbage and were also sold as loose leaves in bunches we had them a lot because they were cheap, this was in England though so it might be called something different here, I can remember them being a strong flavour, I havnt had them for years, Im growing cauliflowers and cabbages so I might give them a try and see if its what I remember. Mum said to strip the stem from the leaves and boil them in salted water until soft, drain and using a knife cut vigourously into the leaves while still in the pot. Good luck
24 Jan 09, Harsha (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Is chinese brocalee fallen to cabage familly? when to saw ?
20 Dec 08, slatter (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
igrew the cabbages but they took long to form the head could it be too much Nitrogen that allows leafy growth?.
29 Oct 08, Nat (Australia - temperate climate)
I planted my cabbages a few months back and now the heads have come large enough to harvest. However when i cut them open i find that actual cabbage leaves are few and it actually looks like that flowers have began developing within the head. I cut a younger head and it wasn't that dense. Have i done something wrong or am i just cutting at the wrong time?
19 Oct 08, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Planted mini cabbages in Blackheath about 8 weeks ago, they are comining along beautifully but about 20% of them appear to be going to seed, as above. They were grown from punnets, not seed, and are all the same variety. Do I break off the seed or leave them to develop? Rainfall, watering and fertilising are good. When are they ready to harvest?
17 Oct 08, Carl (Australia - temperate climate)
I also planted mini cabbages a few months ago and had the same problems. They were getting tall stems with like clusters of seeds appearing off the stems. I also had never tried them before. I thought maybe the seeds were mixed up at Bunnings (they seemed like they were broccolli). I have since take them out and will try to grow a different cabbage.
Showing 211 - 220 of 228 comments

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