How to grow Cabbage

A detailed guide on growing Cabbage at home. Contains information about sun requirements, spacing, notes, planting, feeding and more!

Cabbage prefers rich, deep soil, with plenty of well rotted compost mixed in. 

Plant Cabbage in a full sun position. 

Yes, Cabbage plants will tolerate light frost. 

Plant Cabbage around 40-50cm apart. 

Cabbage is a cool season crop that is usually planted in autumn, depending on your climate. 

Seeds can be sown in late summer and seedlings transplanted in autumn. Seeds can also be sown in autumn. 

If transplanting, plant out in the early morning or evening and/or on an overcast day. Avoid planting at peak sun times or on windy days, this will allow your plants to settle in comfortably and protect them from windburn and sunburn.   

Apply an organic fertiliser to your Cabbage plants throughout the season. 

Harvest the Cabbage when the plant has formed a central head that is a suitable size. 

Pests that affect Cabbage plants include: Aphids, Slug, Snail, Cabbage Moth, Cabbage White Butterfly, Diamondback Moth, Flea Beetle, Cabbage Root Fly, Cutworm, Armyworm, Cabbage Looper, Cutworm, Cabbage Worm, Thrips, Root Knot Nematode, 28 Spotted Ladybug. 

Diseases that affect Cabbage plants include: Alternaria Leaf Spot, Black Rot, Club Root, Downy Mildew, Anthracnose, Watery Soft Rot, Bacterial Soft Rot, Black Leg, Damping-off, Powdery Mildew, Sclerotinia Stem Rot, Ringspot. 

Cabbage plants will only produce one head. Once harvested, you can remove the plant from the ground. 

Protect Cabbage seedlings from pests at the time of planting.

Use fine mesh or exclusion netting to prevent white butterflies from laying eggs on the underside of leaves, caterpillars can be detrimental to this plant. Slugs and Snails are also a large problem for cabbage plants. See the Pests Guide for control methods.