How to grow cabbages from seed
Cabbages are a versatile vegetable crop, coming in a range of different colours, shapes and with different leaf textures. They can be shredded in salads, added to stir-fries or mixed into soups. Due to the huge varaiety of cabbages to grow, it’s possible to harvest cabbages almost all year round.
How to grow cabbages
Grow cabbages in firm, alkaline to neutral soil in a well-prepared bed. Pay attention to the seed spacing requirements on the packet – different varieties should be spaced at different intervals. Firm them in well to prevent cabbage root fly laying eggs in the soil around the stem, and use a root collar if necessary. Feed cabbages with a nitrogen-rich liquid food every fortnight. Your cabbages should be ready to harvest after around 20 weeks.
How to grow cabbages from seed
Different cabbages can be sown at different times of year. For best results, sow seeds indoors, 2cm deep, in pots or trays, and place on a sunny windowsill. After about five weeks, plant the young cabbages outdoors.
How to plant out cabbages
Cabbages do best in a sunny spot with moist, alkaline soil that has had plenty of well-rotted organic matter, such as garden compost, added. If you think your soil may be acidic then do a pH test and add lime to the soil if necessary. Not only will the plants grow better but it’s also thought this can prevent the fungal disease club root.
Spacing requirements vary, depending on the type of cabbage you’re growing: grow spring cabbages 25cm apart, with 30cm between rows; summer cabbages 38cm apart, with 30cm between rows, autumn cabbages 45cm apart, with 45cm between rows; and winter cabbages 45cm apart, with 60cm between rows.
The tried and tested way of planting brassicas crops, which include cabbage, cauliflower, kale, turnips and Brussels sprouts, is to grow them in very firm soil. In this Gardeners’ World clip from May 2013, Monty begins an experiment to compare the performance of cavolo nero (black Tuscan kale) plugs planted in the traditional manner, with plants grown in a lighter, airier raised bed. Watch now to discover how to plant brassicas and to pick up tips on spacing and dealing with cabbage root fly: