BrassicasBrassicaceae
Cabbage.
Cool seasonDeer favorite
At a glance
The spec sheet.
- Indoor start
- Mar 1–15
- Direct sow / out
- Apr 10–20 (spring) / Jul 15 (fall)
- Germ
- 5–10 days
- Days to harvest
- 70–100
- Spacing
- 18" apart, rows 24"
- Depth
- ¼"
- Square-foot
- 1 per square
- Qty target
- 6–10 heads for eating fresh + fermenting a big crock.
Plant
Prefer transplants for the head start. Firm the soil around each seedling.
Care
Row cover essential — cabbage moths lay eggs on unprotected plants within days. Consistent water prevents splitting.
Harvest
Cut when head is firm and full. Leave stump — some varieties produce small secondary heads.
Sauerkraut (fermented), kimchi, coleslaw base, cabbage rolls. Storage cabbage keeps 3–4 months in a cool cellar.
Companion planting
What cabbage likes, and doesn’t.
Good neighbors
More in this family