Vegetable growing guide
Cabbage
Brassica oleracea var. capitata
Sun
Full sun
Season
Cool
Maturity
60 to 100 days
Water
Moderate
Soil pH
6.0 to 7.5
Spacing
12 to 24 in
Planting cabbage
Start indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost for spring heads, or sow in mid summer for a fall crop, which is often the easier of the two.
Planting details
- Spacing ranges 12 to 24 inches with the mature head size
- Seed depth: about 1/4 to 1/2 inch
- Uneven watering splits nearly ripe heads
Growing requirements
Cabbage wants cool weather, fertile soil, and very even moisture. A dry spell followed by heavy water is what splits heads open before harvest.
Harvesting and care
Cut heads when they feel firm and solid. Leave the stump in the ground and many varieties push small second heads worth eating.
Common mistakes
- Irregular watering, which splits heads just before harvest
- Planting in the same bed yearly, which builds up clubroot
- Letting spring heads sit too long in rising heat, which loosens them
Companion plants
Dill, onions, and beets grow well near cabbage. Rotate beds yearly, since clubroot and other brassica diseases linger in soil.