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

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for USA | for all countries
08 Jun 11, arthur (Australia - temperate climate)
Samatha 6th May. Try this for all your greens.First dig the area where your going to plant your cabbage.or seedlings.,cover with dried grass clippings,this is like eggs &.bacon to the insects instead of toast(cabbage} to them.Clear a plate size area then plant your seedlings. Arthur (the mad gardener)
Reply or Post a new comment
14 May 11, arthur (Australia - temperate climate)
I read a book by Alex Bristow called How To Bring Up Plants. Why I mention this because plants require air & water.they also discharge unnessary waste back into the soil.t (they go to the loo.) If any one knows anything that takes in air and water with out discharging please Iet me hear from you.(The mad gardener).If you like to hear some more say so.Note Ive been on the earth 81 years & still going strong.Arthur.
Reply or Post a new comment
05 May 11, Samantha Diplaris (Australia - temperate climate)
Ive just planted cabbage seedlings that I bought from Bunnings, and already 2 weeks after I did this - I noticed that all the small leaves have been eaten...?? What could this be & how best do I stop it from happening to new leaves?
Reply or Post a new comment
13 May 11, arthur (Australia - temperate climate)
I tried something ive never done before in my garden. A landscape gardener drop me off trailer loads of grass chipping, which put all over my growing plots (this was at the start of the summer). it was up to 100mm 150 thick.I watered it well and left it for two weeks or untill it brown on top.(I never buy seedlings always grow from seeds.) You can then make amake acircle and plant all your greens with out fear of wasting you time. cabbage,lettuce .caul,etc.If ever you in Kingsley area look for the vegies in the front garden.( the mad gardne.)Arthur
Reply or Post a new comment
04 Nov 10, Sasha8268 (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I planted wombok starting from seed - it has grown beautifully but it is prickly on the leaves (not edible at all) and did not grow to the normal head of cabbage is just fallen leaves. Has anyone else had this problem?
Reply or Post a new comment
05 Nov 10, Chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Maybe the seed was something feral, or saved from an F1 hybrid so would not grow true?
Reply or Post a new comment
06 Jun 12, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have grown HEAPS of bokchoy, and i save the seed each year. About 10% of it is always the prickly leaf (not good to eat) kind of bokchoy. I feed it to the chooks.
Reply or Post a new comment
15 Oct 10, Lionel Harris (Australia - temperate climate)
I planted a number of cabbage seedlings 6/8 weeks ago and the whole lot went to seed,WHY!!!
Reply or Post a new comment
16 Oct 10, mick (Australia - temperate climate)
same hear i blame bunnings for selling them to late in season
Reply or Post a new comment
15 Oct 10, Chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
It may be too warm for that variety, or else they got stressed (lack of water, too much heat) at some point?
Reply or Post a new comment
Showing 111 - 120 of 153 comments
See comments for all plants

Are you direct sowing (into the garden), or are you sowing indoors in trays? I'll give you the germination temperatures. Germination temperatures vary from plant to plant (even among say tomatoes - the various varieties have different germination temperatures). These are OPTIMAL germination temperatures-- so higher or lower can work, but germination will not be as consistent or Good in non-optimal temps. The germination temperature must be sustained (over several days or more) -- this is the plant's indicator (sustained warm temperature), that spring/summer is here -- and it is time to wake up and get growing. If the germination temperatures are not met, the seeds will remain dormant (most of them), waiting for their ideal growing conditions to occur. Remember - varieties make a difference so I'm giving you GENERAL temperatures. PEPPERS: Soil temperature needs to be at least 75-85 degrees F (24-27 c) for good germination. Peppers won’t germinate in cold soil– with the higher end temps germination may be in 5 days, or may take up to 20 days in the lower temps. Don’t overwater seeds or they may rot. peppers don't like to be overly wet. Your max germination temp is 95F (35c) for peppers. TOMATO : optimum germination temps are : 65-85F (24-30c) days to germinate varies a lot by variety ... so maybe 1- 2 weeks ? Max temp is 95f (35c). Tomato seeds have been know to germinate at temp as low as 40f (4c) -- but expect germination to take a month or more and your germination rate (% of seeds that germinate) will probably be very low. GREENS: way to varied to give an answer -- example: KALE has an optimum germination temp of 65F (18c) and range of 45°F - 85°F (7-30c), while SWISS CHARD's optimum germination is 80°F (27c) with a range of 40°F - 95°F (4-32c). Days to germination vary based on variety and temp. I generally recommend starting peppers and tomatoes indoors -- and with greens it depends on the green -- kale and chard are both tough, and both have a very wide temp range for germination so outdoors is fine. You also have to consider insects... larger plants have a better chance (in general) of survival if you experience pest problems. OF course a lot depends on how long your growing season is-- in a really long and hot growing season, starting tomato seeds outdoors is no problem, in a shorter cooler growing season the optimum germination temps may never be met (sustained) so starting indoors is pretty much a given.

- Celeste Archer

Please provide your email address if you are hoping for a reply


All comments are reviewed before displaying on the site, so your posting will not appear immediately

Gardenate App

Put Gardenate in your pocket. Get our app for iPhone, iPad or Android to add your own plants and record your plantings and harvests

Planting Reminders

Join 60,000+ gardeners who already use Gardenate and subscribe to the free Gardenate planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About Gardenate | Contact us | Privacy Policy

This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
We cannot help if you are overrun by giant slugs.