How to grow cabbage focusing on soil type, location, growth season, harvest and much more.
There are many different varieties of cabbages that will grow well in any fertile soil. The cabbages can be green, red or purple, and they all have the essentially same gardening care. Their head shape can vary from round to flattened and even pointed, and the leaves can be either smooth or have a slightly crinkled texture. Cabbage is a good source for vitamins, and is also used to prevent diseases in some medications. It is great as a side dish for many meals and can be cooked in a variety of different ways.
Cabbage should be planted early before the summer heat hits. It likes a protected plot of land, where the full sun won't hit it all the time. If you are getting the seedlings from your nursery make sure that you get them in the late summer or the early fall. You can also start with seeds in the middle of the summer. Cabbage likes to be grown next to a tall plant such as sunflowers since they will shield the cabbage from much of the sun. Plant the seeds about 1/2 to 2 inches deep and about three inches apart. Once the seedlings are about three to four inches tall, transplant them to their final spot in the garden, still making sure that they do not have full sun on them. Water the seeds often keeping the soil moist at all times or the cabbage will not germinate.
The soil should be at least average to fertile soil, and fertilize it before planting. Work some organic matter or compost into the earth and water the cabbage with a compost tea every two to three weeks. The seedlings should be planted into well drained soil, about 12 to 24 inches apart and to the same depth as they came in their pots or to the same level they have been growing before transplanting them. The further apart you plant the cabbage, the larger the head will develop. Make sure you don't plant the cabbage when it is too early or the cabbage will grow into elongated, gangly unattractive plants that will also be tough and unappetizing.
Keep the soil moist and water the cabbage every few days especially if it is dry. If you live in a very hot area, cover the plants in the noontime heat with some cloth and remove it in the evening. Water the cabbage either early in the morning or late at night to ensure it doesn't get shocked by the cold water temperature. Use a mild fertilizer when the cabbage is half grown and keep cultivating the earth to keep the weeds down and the soil airy. Cabbage likes a fertilizer that is high in nitrogen since we want to encourage the green foliage to grow more. A good way to keep the plants both cool and moist in the summer heat is to use a very low-flow sprinkler to irrigate the cabbage.
A common problem that is encountered when growing cabbage are of course cabbage worms. These bright green worms eat large ragged holes into the cabbage leaves and will infest the heads, all the while blending in perfectly. These worms develop into white or pale yellow butterflies with three or four spots on their wings. To keep pests at bay use a floating row cover or spray a bacterial insecticide containing bacillus thuringensis. Another common disease for cabbage is yellow or fusarium wilt. Yellowing or browning of the outer and lower leaves marks this disease. The wilting is caused by over-watering or insects or because the seed wasn't treated for the disease. Collect the leaves, stems and tops, and burn them to dispose of them to prevent the spread of the disease on the rest of your garden.
To harvest the cabbage, twist the entire head of the cabbage to disengage it from the large cabbage stem. The cabbage will be ready to harvest as soon as the head is fully formed, and feels solid to the touch, but before they split or crack. If there is a sudden heavy rain, the cabbage heads might crack or split wide open. The exposed internal tissue becomes unusable very quickly. If the heads are split, harvest and salvage them as soon as you can to prevent a loss of crops. If you harvest the mature heads of the cabbage that was planted in the spring, small heads often start to develop on the cut stump of the cabbage. These sprouts can be harvested later, leaving the outer leaves intact. The sprouts will develop from two to four inches in diameter and should be harvested as soon as they are firm. One of the most successful ways to preserve cabbage for the winter is to pickle it. Some people also like to make sauerkraut out of the cabbage, which involves storing the cabbage in a salt solution.
