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Cabbage
Brassica oleracea var. capitata
Reliable heads for slaw, kraut and winter stews.
Sun
Full sun
Water
3 cm / week
Soil
Firm, rich, pH 6.5–7.5
Spacing
45 cm apart
Days to harvest
70–100 days
Hardiness
Zones 3–10
Seasonal Calendar
S
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H
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Sow Harvest
The method
- 1
Sow
Start in modules or a nursery bed. Transplant firmly.
- 2
Net against butterflies
Fine mesh from planting until harvest.
- 3
Water well
Especially as heads form — dry spells cause splitting.
- 4
Harvest
Cut when head is dense. Leave the root and cross-cut it — you'll often get a bonus of mini heads.
Common problems
Cabbage root fly
Fit collars of card around each stem at ground level.
Splitting
Rotate the plant a quarter-turn to break some roots and slow water uptake.
Good neighbors
BeetOnionDillSage
Field tips
- “Savoy varieties hold in the ground through hard frosts.”
- “Cabbage in a cold frame stays perfect until spring.”