This is How You Grow The Best Cabbage Ever
Get ready to unlock insider tips, expert techniques, and secrets to growing cabbage that will have your friends and neighbors green with envy. Let’s dive in and discover how you can grow the biggest, tastiest, and most impressive cabbage crop of your gardening life.
Cabbage is A Worthy Addition to Your Garden
Save This Page
I'll email you a link to this post!
Cabbage is a powerhouse of nutrition, packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that contribute to overall health and well-being. Plus, it’s incredibly versatile in the kitchen, lending itself to many delicious recipes, from crunchy sauerkraut and coleslaws to hearty stews and everything in between.
Cabbage is also a hardy and resilient crop, able to withstand various growing conditions and climates, making it an excellent choice for beginner and experienced gardeners. Whether you’re looking to stock your pantry with homegrown goodness, beautify your garden with lush green foliage, or enjoy growing your food, cabbage has got you covered.
Choose the Right Variety
Selecting the appropriate cabbage variety is important for successful cultivation. You’ll be able to grow most types, but for the best yields and healthiest, tastiest plants, you want to know what works in your area.
Consider factors such as your local climate, growing season length, and intended culinary use. Research different varieties and experiment with those best suited to your garden’s conditions and your culinary preferences.
Prepare the Soil
Preparing the soil is the foundation for healthy cabbage plants. Begin by testing your soil’s pH and nutrient levels using a home testing kit or by sending samples to a local extension office. Aim for a slightly acidic to neutral pH between 6.0 and 7.5, as cabbage thrives in well-drained, fertile soil.
Incorporate organic matter such as compost, well-rotted manure, or aged leaf mold to improve soil structure, fertility, and water retention. Work amendments into the soil to a depth of 6-8 inches, ensuring even distribution throughout the root zone.
Timing is Everything
Cabbage is a cool-season crop that prefers moderate temperatures and ample sunlight. Start seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before the last expected frost date, or sow seeds directly in the garden when soil temperatures reach 45°F (7°C) or above.
Choose a planting location with full sun exposure, ideally receiving 6-8 hours of sunlight per day. In warmer climates, consider planting cabbage where it will receive partial shade during the hottest part of the day to prevent bolting.
Give Them Room to Grow
Proper spacing is essential for optimal cabbage growth and development. Plant seedlings 12-24 inches apart in rows spaced 18-36 inches apart, depending on the variety’s mature size.
Dig planting holes slightly larger than the root ball of the seedling and set them at the same depth as they were in their containers. Firm the soil around the base of each seedling to provide stability and ensure good root-to-soil contact.
Watering and Mulching
Consistent moisture is critical for cabbage growth, especially during the early stages. Water plants thoroughly immediately after planting, then maintain even soil moisture throughout the growing season. Provide approximately 1-1.5 inches of water per week, adjusting based on weather conditions and soil moisture levels. Mulch around cabbage plants with organic materials like straw, shredded leaves, or grass clippings to retain soil moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature.
Fertilization and Nutrient Management
Cabbage is a heavy feeder and requires regular fertilization to support vigorous growth and development. Before planting, amend the soil with a balanced fertilizer or organic amendments rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Side-dress cabbage plants with additional nitrogen-rich fertilizer 3-4 weeks after transplanting to encourage leafy growth and head formation. Monitor plant health throughout the growing season and adjust fertilization as needed based on visual cues and soil test results.
Weed Control and Pest Management
Weed competition can hinder cabbage growth and reduce yields, so keeping the garden free of weeds is essential. Regularly inspect cabbage plants for signs of pests such as cabbage worms, cabbage moth caterpillars (pictured), aphids, flea beetles, and slugs. Use crop rotation, intercropping with pest-repellent plants, and handpicking pests to minimize damage naturally.
Use organic or chemical insecticides sparingly and according to label instructions when pest populations exceed tolerable levels.
The Cabbage Moth
We commonly refer to them as cabbage moths, but Pieris rapae is an invasive European butterfly. These small pests can wreak havoc on cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, kale, bok choy, and broccoli.
Dealing with a cabbage moth infestation in your cabbage patch can be challenging, but with a proactive approach and effective strategies, you can successfully manage and minimize the damage caused by these voracious pests.
It’s important to identify the signs of a cabbage moth infestation accurately. Look out for small white butterflies flitting around your cabbage plants, as these are the adult cabbage moths. Inspect your cabbage leaves for chewed edges, holes, or the presence of small green caterpillars, which are the larvae of the cabbage moth.
One of the most effective control methods is a simple one — the use of floating row covers. These lightweight, breathable fabric covers create a physical barrier that prevents adult moths from laying their eggs on your cabbage plants. Install row covers immediately after planting or transplanting your cabbage seedlings to ensure maximum protection.
In addition to physical barriers, biological control methods can also be highly effective in managing cabbage moth infestations. Introducing natural predators such as parasitic wasps and predatory insects into your garden can help keep cabbage moth populations in check by preying on their eggs and larvae.
A Fall Crop Is Best
The best tip I can give you is to plan for a fall crop of cabbage versus spring and summer.
Planting cabbage for a fall crop has its perks. Cabbage thrives in cooler temperatures, making fall an ideal time for cultivation. Cooler weather reduces the risk of heat stress and bolting. Fall planting coincides with decreased pest activity, minimizing the need for pesticides.
Fall-harvested cabbage tends to be sweeter and more tender, extending the harvest season. Overall, planting in the fall sets the stage for healthier plants and better yields, ensuring a bountiful supply of fresh, flavorful cabbage.
In many European countries, the fall crop of cabbage was crucial for sauerkraut making, a tangy fermentation brimming with probiotics and vitamins that would enliven meals throughout the winter while also preserving cabbage for many, many months.
Optimize Growing Conditions
Maintaining optimal temperature and light levels is crucial for maximizing cabbage yield and quality. In regions with extreme temperatures, consider using shade cloth or row covers to protect cabbage plants from excessive heat or cold. Implement passive solar heating techniques such as thermal mass storage or thermal curtains to capture and retain solar energy, creating a favorable microclimate for cabbage growth. Monitor temperature fluctuations and adjust management practices as needed to ensure consistent plant growth and development.
Preserve Soil Fertility
Practicing crop rotation helps prevent soilborne diseases and nutrient depletion, ensuring long-term soil health and cabbage productivity. Rotate cabbage with crops from different plant families, such as legumes or grains, to disrupt pest and disease cycles and replenish soil nutrients. Incorporate cover crops like clover or rye during fallow periods to improve soil structure, suppress weeds, and fix nitrogen, reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers and enhancing overall soil fertility.
Attract Native Pollinators & Predators
Incorporating native flowers and other plants into your garden is a powerful strategy for managing pest pressures while promoting a healthy ecosystem.
Native flowers attract local pollinators like bees and butterflies, crucial for cabbage reproduction. Choices such as Purple Coneflower and Wild Bergamot provide essential food sources for pollinators throughout the growing season.
Supplementing with non-native flowering plants and herbs like Lavender and Oregano further enhances pollinator diversity. These plants support a balanced ecosystem by attracting beneficial predators like ladybugs and lacewings, natural enemies of common garden pests.
Planting Dill, Fennel, and other predator-attracting species creates habitat and food sources for these helpful insects.
Varietal Tests & Trials
Conducting varietal trials allows you to evaluate different cabbage varieties for performance, flavor, and disease resistance under local growing conditions. Experiment with heirloom, hybrid, or open-pollinated cultivars to discover varieties that thrive in your garden and suit your culinary preferences.
You may be surprised by how much one type of cabbage grows better than another. You also may find you really prefer the flavor on type over another.
Keep detailed records of planting dates, growth habits, yield quantities, and qualitative observations to inform future planting decisions and optimize cabbage production.
Make Sauerkraut
As mentioned, fall is the time that sauerkraut is traditionally made and in many European countries this has historically been a big deal.
I continue this tradition with my large German-made fermentation crock that holds up to 20 mature heads of cabbage, shredded and pounded into authentic German sauerkraut.
You don’t have to be that extreme — small crocks or simple mason jars work too!
Learn More: Traditional European Sauerkraut Recipe
More Cabbage Recipes
Delicious, nutritious, and budget-friendly, fresh cabbage is an absolute gem in the kitchen.
Learn More: 22 Delicious Cabbage Recipes That Are Perfect Comfort Meals
