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

06 Jan 20, Ian (New Zealand - temperate climate)
I have used, for the first time, garden domes from the ware house. At last I don't have to spray for white butterfly. The domes let nothing in due to the mesh size. Bees can get in but find it hard to get out. So I now have four of these domes. Snails, birds, you name it. Nothing can get in.
26 Nov 23, (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Are there recommendations for sowing cabbage seeds that are tolerant of hot days (17 to 21 deg C and cooler nights 6 to 10 deg C as experienced in the central N.I. I do OK with shop bought punnets in early spring and mid to late autumn, but have no luck with sucessional planting in late spring through summer and early autumn.
14 Dec 23, (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Cabbage are a cool weather crop not a hot weather crop.
Showing 11 - 13 of 13 comments

I wonder if you can tell me if cabbages can resow themselves ? I have cabbages growing along my fence a long way away from my garden so don't know how they come to be there

- Rex

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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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