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 41°F and 64°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 20 - 30 inches 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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18 Sep 09, Annalisa (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Okay, my wombok, Chinese Cabbage, bolted (went to flower)... but it says to plant all-year round? I'm in suburb Brisbane. It's only Sept. not even HOT yet? Everything else says it needs to be cooler or it WILL bolt. What should I do? Should I plant more (planning on it, trying to feed a family of 4 with monthly planting) or will they just go to flower during summer? Would planting another type of cabbage do the trick? *sigh* I love Wombok, buying 1/2 head a week, and was so excited for my first harvest, but now what?
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08 Aug 09, Neil (Australia - temperate climate)
Regards the eggshells. One of the sexes of the cabbage white butterfly (I presume males) lays on the ground with its wings outstreached to attract a mate. The females intendig to lay eggs have already mated and appear repulsed at the thought of more sex and often fly off. So, expect the best results if you arrange the egg shells to look like the butterflys laying on the ground with their wings outstreached.
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08 Aug 09, stan (Australia - temperate climate)
have bugs in heart of cabbage,any tips to get rid of them
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31 Jul 09, David (Australia - temperate climate)
Meryl, the trick is to not get caterpillars to begin with. Pick off those you have then netting or large pieces of egg shell (white side up works better) on and around the leaves. When to pick depends on the type. If it is a hearting variety then when you have a firm/solid centre. Some of the "spring" varieties these days look like big leafy lettuce.
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30 Jul 09, Meryl Travers (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
How do I know when to pick my cabbages please? I have little holes in the leaves, and I guess they are caterpillars of some kind. What is a good organic spray I can get rid of these little creatures with? Thank you. Meryl
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04 Jul 09, Karina (Australia - temperate climate)
A little tip for the snails/slugs. They absolutely LOVE beer! Place some of the fine ale in a few shallow receptacles and position these in different areas on the ground throughout your vege patch. They crawl into the beer and die a happy death. Replace the beer every few days.
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31 May 09, David (Australia - temperate climate)
Dawn: It is Slug / Snail hatching time (at least in Sydney). Have you tried looking at about 8pm? Millions of the little critters here munching happily through EVERYTHING I have planted.
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30 May 09, Louisa (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
i have planted chinese cabbage from seedlings. it seems that one by one they are dying off. i think there is a pest, a webby sort of stuff over the dying plants. if i rip out the effected plant the pest seems to move on to the next one. i haven't seen any actual organism, so unsure what it is. any ideas? i am just leaving the affected cabbages there now, as it doesn't seem to spread to the others if i do this.
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04 May 09, Dawn (Australia - temperate climate)
I was so excited to use the egg shells and get rid of the green catapillar. Now, welcome the grey aphid! After much research I have found that native Aust. ladybirds and lacewings do the trick. After even MORE research I've found where to buy them: (I cannot post a web link) bugs for bugs (dot com, dot au)
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19 Apr 09, Dette (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
To Sandra. You can prevent white cabbage fly and others by planting Thyme and other herbs amongst your cabbages. The bugs hate it and the cabbages love it.
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Showing 201 - 210 of 226 comments
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Kaye, I also remember eating what was called 'greens', I asked my Mother and she said they were the outer leaves of cauliflower and cabbage and were also sold as loose leaves in bunches we had them a lot because they were cheap, this was in England though so it might be called something different here, I can remember them being a strong flavour, I havnt had them for years, Im growing cauliflowers and cabbages so I might give them a try and see if its what I remember. Mum said to strip the stem from the leaves and boil them in salted water until soft, drain and using a knife cut vigourously into the leaves while still in the pot. Good luck

- Tricia

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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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