How Do You Plant Cabbage?

Intro to growing Cabbage

Growing cabbage is a lot of fun. Plus, they are tasty and healthy!

Soil

Grow cabbage in containers of 12 to 18 inches diameter. Cabbage ideally wants loamy soil or sandy loam to grow in. Sandy loam simply means soil consisting of less than 7 percent clay, less than 50 percent silt, and between 43 and 50 percent sand.

Container

Cabbage is a cool-grower suited to grow in spring and fall. Although cabbages do best in open ground, you could grow one or two in a large, deep container, but they aren't suitable for growing bags.

Seeds

You are obviously also going to need seeds!

Sun-Requirements

This is a plant that needs shade.

Sowing

If you only want a few cabbages or have limited space, it's easiest to sow in trays (one seed per module), then transplant outdoors later. Take care not to grow cabbages in the spot where you grew them (or other brassicas) the previous year. Still, if you have plenty of space, it's ok to sow directly in main plot at the final spacing 30-45cm (12-18in) apart depending on variety (check seed packets). Summer cabbages: sow from late winter or very early spring (under cloches or similar cover) until early summer; transplant as summer sets in. Before sowing, make sure the soil is well firmed by shuffling along the surface on your heels. Then rake it level, creating a fine, crumbly texture. Cabbages can be sown either directly in the ground outside or in modular trays (and left outdoors). Make a drill, 1cm (0.4 in) deep, then sow the seeds thinly along it.

Depth

Cabbage should be sown at a depth of 0.5 inches (1 cm).