GROWING GUIDE - CABBAGE

Looking to grow beautiful, healthy cabbage in your garden? This guide covers planting, watering, feeding, pest prevention, and harvesting so you can grow firm, flavorful heads.

QUICK FACTS

• Sun: Full sun
• Soil: Rich, well-drained soil; plant as soon as soil can be worked in early spring
• Spacing: 12–24 in. apart (larger spacing = larger heads)
• Germination: 7–10 days around 21°C
• Suitable for Canadian growing conditions
• Follow package instructions for best results
• Contact T&T Seeds for personalized growing advice

CABBAGE PLANTING & CARE

Cabbage is a hardy, cool-season vegetable that produces dense, nutritious heads. It’s excellent fresh, in slaws, cooked dishes, and for fermenting.

PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS

• Site: Choose a sunny location with nutrient-rich, well-drained soil.
• Direct seeding: Sow as soon as soil can be worked in early spring.
• Starting indoors: For an earlier harvest, start seeds indoors 4–6 weeks before transplanting outdoors.
• Sowing: Sow seeds thinly (about 6–7 seeds per foot) and cover lightly with soil.
• Thinning/spacing: Thin seedlings to 12–24 in. apart depending on desired head size.
• Moisture: Keep soil evenly moist during germination (typically 7–10 days at ~21°C).

WATERING & MULCHING

Water consistently—uneven moisture can lead to stress and poor head formation. Mulch helps retain moisture, regulate soil temperature, and reduce weeds.

FERTILIZING

Cabbage is a heavy feeder. Work compost into the soil before planting. Apply a nitrogen-forward fertilizer about 2–3 weeks after transplanting (or once seedlings are established) to support leafy growth and head development.

SUPPORT & PROTECTION

Cabbage prefers cool weather. In hot spells, provide consistent watering and consider light shade to reduce stress. Row covers can also help protect young plants from insect pressure.

PRUNING & HARVEST NOTES

• Thinning: Thin early to give plants enough space for strong head formation.
• Airflow: Remove only damaged or yellowing outer leaves as needed to improve airflow.
• After harvest: After cutting the main head, some varieties may produce smaller side heads if the plant is left in the ground.

COMMON ISSUES & SOLUTIONS

Pests:

• Cabbageworms: Inspect leaves regularly and remove larvae by hand. Floating row cover helps prevent egg-laying.
• Aphids: Spray off with a strong stream of water or use an approved insecticidal soap/organic spray (e.g., End-All).
• Cabbage root maggots: Use cabbage collars to deter egg-laying at the base of plants.

Products containing diatomaceous earth (e.g., Last Crawl, item #3383) can help control crawling insects as part of an integrated approach. Always follow label directions.

Companion planting: Good companions include beans, celery, cucumbers, lettuce, onions, potatoes, sage, spinach, and thyme. Avoid planting cabbage right beside other Brassicas (broccoli, cauliflower) year after year—rotate crops to reduce pest and disease buildup.

READY TO START GROWING?

Browse our selection of high-quality cabbage seeds and get everything you need to start your garden today!

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Explore more of our expert growing guides to expand your garden knowledge:

• Browse our complete collection of Vegetable Growing guides
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• Discover companion planting strategies for better yields

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