Cabbage (Brassica oleracea spp.) is a classic vegetable that has been a staple in Western diets for hundreds of years. It is nutritious and antioxidant-rich and offers an attractive rosette of foliage that comes in a surprising array of colors and textures.
Early, mid-season, and late varieties have round, conical, or flat-head shapes. Some selections have smooth leaves, while others have crinkled foliage. The colors range from yellow-green to blue-green, deep green, or purplish red. Each has a distinct flavor, with the red types being among the sweetest.
For the best flavor, use homegrown cabbage when it’s fresh. When it’s young and tender, it has a milder flavor. Add shredded cabbage to mixed salads or in classic or innovative coleslaws, as well as other tasty cabbage recipes.
Cabbage Overview
Where to Plant Cabbage
Cabbage grows in USDA Zones 2-9 in areas that receive full sun (or partial sun in the warmest zones). It grows best in fertile, well-draining soil that retains moisture well.
How and When to Plant Cabbage
In most growing zones, sow cabbage seeds outdoors about a month before your last frost date for a fall harvest. Cabbage that matures in the cool temperatures of fall is sweeter than cabbage that matures in hot weather.
Prepare a garden bed with fertile, well-draining soil by adding compost. Sow the seed and cover it with 1/4 inch of soil. Keep the soil evenly moist.
For a summer harvest, sow seeds of early cabbage varieties indoors about six weeks before the last average frost date in your area. Move the seedlings outdoors when the temperature warms, spacing them about 2 feet apart.
Cabbage Care Tips
Light
Cabbage grows best in a spot with afternoon or all-day sun.
Soil and Water
Cabbage grows best in moist, well-drained soil that’s rich in organic matter. If your soil has a high clay content or a lot of sand, amend it liberally with compost or coir when you plant to produce the best crop.
Spreading a 2- to 3-inch-deep layer of mulch around each cabbage plant will help keep the soil cool longer into summer, allow the soil to stay moist longer, and cut down on the amount of weeds—all factors your cabbage patch will appreciate.
Temperature and Humidity
Like most of its relatives (kale, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, and kohlrabi), cabbage is a cool-season crop that thrives when temperatures stay between 60°F and 75°F, but it can handle much cooler temperatures as it matures in fall—between 35°F and 50°F, Frost may damage the foliage, but won’t kill the cabbage.
Cabbage enjoys humidity conditions of 90% or higher.
Fertilizer
Cabbage is a heavy feeder. Even when planted in rich soil, the plants benefit from an application of compost tea or a liquid fertilizer (following packaging instructions) when they first start to head up.
Potting and Repotting Cabbage
Cabbage can grow in containers, but plant only a single cabbage in a pot that is about 18 inches wide or larger to accommodate the cabbage as it grows to full size. Be attentive to the soil moisture level, as container soil dries out quicker than in-ground plantings. There is no need to replant this garden annual. Start with a fresh plant each year.
Pests and Problems
If you see little white butterflies hovering around your cabbage plants, you may want to protect your crop with floating row covers, an insecticide such as Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis), or an insecticidal soap. Cabbage butterflies lay eggs that hatch into small green caterpillars that eat unsightly holes in cabbage leaves. Cabbage plants also attract aphids, slugs and snails.
How to Propagate Cabbage
Most home gardeners grow cabbage from purchased seed or nursery seedlings, but the seeds can be harvested from a cabbage for future use. However, you have to forego harvesting a cabbage to get them.
Leave the cabbage in the garden. It will eventually split and grow a flower spike. When the resulting flowers dry, they set seed. Cut the dry spike and put it in a paper bag. Shake it to loosen the seeds and store them in a dry location until needed.
Types of Cabbage
There are hundreds of cabbage varieties, but most can be loosely classified as green cabbage, red (or purple) cabbage, savoy cabbage, or napa (or Chinese) cabbage.
Green Cabbage
Green cabbage is the cabbage most of us see in the market. It grows in a tight spherical shape with leaves that are pale green and crunchy. It is the main ingredient in traditional coleslaw and appears cooked in many recipes.
Red Cabbage
When you’re tired of traditional coleslaw, red coleslaw may surprise you with its sweet flavor and stunning color. This cabbage has a mild flavor that accents the other ingredients while putting on a colorful show. It isn’t limited to slaw, though. It also works well in cooked dishes.
Napa Cabbage
Chinese cabbage, also known as napa cabbage, is an oblong cool-weather vegetable that resembles romaine lettuce. It is an excellent source of calcium and contains more vitamins than green cabbage. It enjoys short days and cool temperatures and usually matures in 30-45 days.
Savoy Cabbage
Savoy cabbage is recognizable mostly by its green, crinkly leaves. It has a mild, sweet flavor and can be eaten in slaws or cooked in dishes. It can also be used as a wrap for spring rolls.
Cabbage Companion Plants
Whether you grow cabbage to harvest or admire, it deserves a place in every edible garden. The attractive foliage looks great by itself, in groups, or mixed with finer-leaf plants such as carrots or sweet corn. Enjoy cabbage plants in clusters, along walkways, or in the middle or back of the border. For extra appeal and a visual surprise, mix green- and purple-leaf varieties together.
Garden Plans
Spring Harvest Vegetable Garden Plan
This spring harvest vegetable garden plan nestles 10 cool-season crops in a 4-by-4-foot area. They do their best growing in lower temperatures and can even take a light frost. Enjoy the freshest flavors of the season.
Large-Scale Vegetable Garden Plan
If you have the space and want to grow food for your family, try this large-scale vegetable garden plan. It has a little bit of everything: leafy greens, root veggies, herbs, and tasty pods. This plan includes broccoli, peas, cabbage, carrots, and lettuce.