Gardening Guide: Cabbage

April 26, 2018 by Kasi Smith Leave a Comment

Plant Care Basics

Contents

1 Growing cabbage is a great vegetable garden project, even for beginners. If you’re trying your hand at a garden this year, plan on growing cabbage.

2 Grow Zone Recommendation: The most important thing about growing cabbage isn’t the USDA growing zone, but the time you plant and harvest it. There is likely a type of cabbage that will grow in your area, as long as you time it right. The planting season is long, so it ill need time to mature before the summer heat sets in. Hardy plants can actually tolerate frost.

3 Sunlight Needs: Cabbage can be grown in partial sun to full sun.

4 Watering Needs: This plant will require regular watering, just like most of your other garden vegetables. Even moisture is key to prevent splitting as the heads grow.

5 Average Size: Growing cabbage, make sure you plan for their size. They’ll grow from 10 to 30 inches wide and 6 inches to 3 feet tall, depending on the variety and your conditions.

6 Foliage Color: Foliage is a classic, deep green color.

7 Must Know Plant Care Tips: Once a head of cabbage is of a good size and firm when squeezed, use a sharp knife to cut it off close to the ground. If you put off harvesting too long, the head may split. After harvesting the head, let the stub grow back and it may form several smaller heads that you can enjoy later.

8 Plant Problem Solver: Cabbage worms can be a problem. When you see them, pick them off. Slugs can be an issue too, as can cutworms. You can use an insecticide if you wish, but you still need to keep an eye out. Common diseases include club root, black leg fungus that causes dark spots, black rot, and the yellows which results in stunted growth and yellow heads. If an infection sets in, there isn’t much you can do to save your cabbage. You can, however, not grow it in that same spot next year, as the spores can last the winter and affect your new plants. For this same reason, never leave cabbage debris in your garden over the winter.

9 Pretty Pairings: This plant will grow well under similar conditions as aromatic herbs like chamomile, thyme, dill, peppermint, rosemary, sage, oregano, and spearmint. Try yarrow and marigolds around the edges, and onions, celery, and beets nearby.

Growing cabbage is a great vegetable garden project, even for beginners. If you’re trying your hand at a garden this year, plan on growing cabbage.

Grow Zone Recommendation: The most important thing about growing cabbage isn’t the USDA growing zone, but the time you plant and harvest it. There is likely a type of cabbage that will grow in your area, as long as you time it right. The planting season is long, so it ill need time to mature before the summer heat sets in. Hardy plants can actually tolerate frost.

Sunlight Needs: Cabbage can be grown in partial sun to full sun.

Watering Needs: This plant will require regular watering, just like most of your other garden vegetables. Even moisture is key to prevent splitting as the heads grow.

Average Size: Growing cabbage, make sure you plan for their size. They’ll grow from 10 to 30 inches wide and 6 inches to 3 feet tall, depending on the variety and your conditions.

Foliage Color: Foliage is a classic, deep green color.

Must Know Plant Care Tips: Once a head of cabbage is of a good size and firm when squeezed, use a sharp knife to cut it off close to the ground. If you put off harvesting too long, the head may split. After harvesting the head, let the stub grow back and it may form several smaller heads that you can enjoy later.

Plant Problem Solver: Cabbage worms can be a problem. When you see them, pick them off. Slugs can be an issue too, as can cutworms. You can use an insecticide if you wish, but you still need to keep an eye out. Common diseases include club root, black leg fungus that causes dark spots, black rot, and the yellows which results in stunted growth and yellow heads. If an infection sets in, there isn’t much you can do to save your cabbage. You can, however, not grow it in that same spot next year, as the spores can last the winter and affect your new plants. For this same reason, never leave cabbage debris in your garden over the winter.

Pretty Pairings: This plant will grow well under similar conditions as aromatic herbs like chamomile, thyme, dill, peppermint, rosemary, sage, oregano, and spearmint. Try yarrow and marigolds around the edges, and onions, celery, and beets nearby.

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