My husband, fondly known as the Chief, would rather have a cabbage salad than one made of lettuce. Steamed cabbage, cole slaw and stuffed cabbage rolls are comfort foods from his childhood.
So cabbage is one of the vegetables I grow each spring. It makes me feel accomplished because it's such an early plant (in other words, there is something green growing in the garden), and because the Chief likes it so much.
Cabbage transplants show up in the garden department at our local big box stores along with other spring plants in the beginning of March. But if you want something other than Early Jersey Wakefield cabbage, you'll have to start them from seed yourself.
Cabbage planting dates
Cabbage seeds should be started indoors 6-8 weeks before your last average frost date. Harden them off outdoors for two weeks and transplant into your garden about the date of your last frost.
Planting and growing cabbage
Cabbage grows best during long springs with mild weather, which is probably why it grows well here in Oklahoma. The ideal temperature for growing cabbage is about 60-65°F. If the temperature is much hotter than that, the plants may bolt (go to seed) and not form heads at all.
Most cabbage is cold tolerant and will survive light frosts, although it's a good idea to cover the plants when a frosty night is expected.
Cabbage likes well-drained soil that's been amended with composted manure or other organic material. It prefers a soil pH of 6.5 to 6.8.
Cabbage is also an excellent plant for your fall garden, when you'll be able to plant the cabbage seeds directly in the garden.
Set the plants about 18-24 inches apart.
I know it will look like a lot of wasted space, but take it from someone who once planted them a foot apart and regretted it because there wasn't enough room.
My plants were harder to care for, harder to checks for pests, had to compete for sunlight, and were smaller than they could have been if they'd had more space to grow.
Watering cabbage - here's how much they need
Cabbage prefers consistent watering. It won't do well in soggy soil, but it requires regular watering with about 1 1/2 inches of water per week.
Be sure to supplement your plants with hand watering if your spring rains are too sporadic or the storms don't bless your garden with enough moisture each week.
Are you confused by garden "lingo"? Learn the common words
and phrases all gardeners need to know here.
How much sun does cabbage need?
While cabbage plants grow well in full sun, they can get by with less. Six hours of sunlight a day is recommended for the best growth, but if your garden is in dappled or light shade you can still grow cabbage, although it will take longer to mature and might have smaller-than-usual heads.
To prevent your little transplants from slugs, surround each plant with a ring of crushed eggshells. Placing a two-inch-high ring from a cardboard toilet paper tube over each plant will help protect them from cutworms.
Organic remedies for cabbage worms
The first year I grew cabbage I had beautiful plants. Then one morning my beautiful cabbages had holes in the leaves: the dreaded cabbage worms had arrived.
Left untreated, a large infestation of cabbage worms can ruin your harvest. This is something you want to keep ahead of - before they make an appearance in your garden.
You'll find my organic methods for preventing cabbage worms here. Number two is a game changer!
When to harvest cabbage
How do you know when to harvest your cabbage plants? Grasp the top of a head of cabbage and squeeze gently. The head is ripe when there are no air pockets inside, so there won't be any "give" when you squeeze.
If it feels "squishy" leave it for awhile longer. If the head feels firm, it's ready to harvest. Cut the head of cabbage where it meets the stem.
Harvest cabbage plants one at a time as they mature so you won't have to deal with a dozen heads at once.
Remove the outer leaves and add them to your compost pile. (If you don't have one yet, here's how to start a compost pile. It's super-beneficial!)
Storing and using cabbage from the garden
Cabbage heads can be stored in a root cellar or cool basement. Check them often and use before they spoil. Cabbage stores better in the fall and winter than over the summer, so you might want to grow a few more plants in your fall garden.
Cabbage is low in calories but high in nutrients. According to healthline.com, cabbage is a good source dietary fiber, minerals including calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and thiamine, as well as vitamin C, vitamin K and vitamin B6 plus folate and manganese.
Add cabbage to stir fry, soup, stew, and lo mein noodles. Make cole slaw and stuffed cabbage (you can find my stuffed cabbage recipe here.) Or ferment your own sauerkraut and then can it (no pressure-canning needed, sauerkraut should be water bath canned).
You can also freeze or dehydrate cabbage.
Related Posts:
Stuffed Cabbage Rolls
How to Store Leftover Seeds to Use Next Year
Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Subscribe
Kathi Rodgers is the gardener and writer behind Oak Hill Homestead (est. 2006) and the host of HOMEGROWN: Your Backyard Garden Podcast. With over 30 years of gardening experience in a variety of climates and soils, she helps new and aspiring gardeners grow healthy, organic food right in their own backyards.
A passionate advocate for simple, self-reliant living, Kathi is the author of multiple ebooks, a published magazine contributor, and shares practical advice with readers who want real-life solutions they can trust.
Kathi lives in Oklahoma, where she grows more cherry tomatoes than she can count and keeps a watchful eye on tornado season. A proud grandma and great-grandma, she believes that wisdom - like a bountiful garden harvest - should be shared.
