Growing Cabbage

Brassica sp. : Brassicaceae / the mustard or cabbage family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
  S S         S S      
      T T         T T  

(Best months for growing Cabbage in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • Easy to grow. Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4 weeks. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 5°C and 18°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 50 - 75 cm apart
  • Harvest in 11-15 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Dwarf (bush) beans, beets, celery, cucumber, onions, marigold, nasturtium, rhubarb, aromatic herbs (sage, dill, chamomile, thyme)
  • Avoid growing close to: Climbing (pole) beans, tomato, peppers (chili, capsicum), eggplant (aubergine), strawberry, mustard, parsnip

Your comments and tips

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06 Mar 23, Rob (Australia - temperate climate)
The variety you like eating the most
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08 Feb 23, Ian (Australia - temperate climate)
Cabbage and Colliflower can they be grown on tubs in hot house
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19 Jan 23, Theresa (USA - Zone 8a climate)
Planting cabbage this weekend hopefully does not get too warm too quick.
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02 Oct 22, Cammie (USA - Zone 4b climate)
What varieties of cabbage should I plant now?
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03 Oct 22, (USA - Zone 4b climate)
Any. What you want to eat.
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13 Aug 22, Peter Chapman (Australia - temperate climate)
My cabbage are wilting. I have not watered them for months as I am on the Central Coast of NSW and we have had plenty of rain. The plants are mulched and I am wondering if they are holding too much water. Finger test of plants shows they are fairly damp but certainly not flooded. They are in raised beds abouit 20 cm high. Cheers Pete
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16 Aug 22, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Could be a wilt disease, too much water. I definitely would not have mulched them with all the rain you have had. Depends what your soil is like - clayish or sandy.
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03 Jul 22, Kenneth Davis (Australia - temperate climate)
Cabbages and Broccoli not forming hearts. Good. soil added potash What is wrong?
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05 Jul 22, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
If too much fertiliser especially nitrogen they will produce a lot of leaves, They don't need a big amount of potash. They need nitrogen to grow but too much and then all leaf.
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11 Feb 22, Anonymous of Bundaberg (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Check the calendar planting guide in your climate zone, it tells you when you can plant them.
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Showing 21 - 30 of 226 comments
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My radishes and cabbage have small holes in the leaves. No caterpillars, eggs or butterflies as it is quite cold now. I’ve also checked the leaves. What do you think is causing this? Thanks, Ann

- Ann McKenzie

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. GardenGrow is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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