Cabbage is easy to grow in cool weather, and a well-grown head stores for weeks or months. It is a heavy-feeding member of the cabbage family that needs rich soil, steady moisture and protection from caterpillars. Varieties range from small, quick early types to large storage cabbages. This page covers when to plant, how to space and feed it, how to stop heads splitting and how to harvest.
Cabbage at a glance
| Type | Vegetable |
|---|---|
| Season | Cool-season |
| Sun | Full sun |
| Plant spacing | 18 in |
| Row spacing | 30 in |
| Per square foot | 1 |
| Seed depth | ½ in |
| Days to maturity | 70–100 from transplant |
| How to start | Indoors 6–8 weeks before last frost |
| Water | 1 in per week |
These are the same numbers our plant spacing, square foot and harvest date calculators use. See every crop in the plant database.
When to plant cabbage
For spring, start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost and plant out 2 to 4 weeks before it. Young plants tolerate light frost. For fall and storage cabbage, start seeds in early to midsummer and plant out about 10 to 12 weeks before your first fall frost; heads that mature in cool weather are the sweetest.
Find your dates with the frost dates by ZIP code tool and the planting calendar.
How to plant cabbage
- Choose full sun. At least 6 hours a day.
- Use rich soil. Work 2 to 3 inches of compost into the bed.
- Plant firmly and a little deep. Set transplants with the lowest leaves just above the soil.
- Match spacing to variety. Small early types can be planted closer than the spacing in the table above; large storage types need more room. The plant spacing calculator shows how many fit.
- Rotate. Avoid spots where cabbage-family crops grew recently. The crop rotation checker helps.
Caring for cabbage
Give about an inch of water a week and keep it steady. Uneven watering, especially heavy rain or watering after a dry spell, makes mature heads split. Water at the base and mulch. The garden watering calculator turns the weekly amount into gallons.
Side-dress with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer or compost about 3 weeks after transplanting and again as heads start to form. Keep row cover on from planting to keep cabbage worms off. If a mature head looks ready to split before you can use it, twist the plant a quarter turn or slice into the roots with a spade on one side; this slows growth.
Companion plants
| Grow nearby | Onions, garlic, dill, celery, thyme, nasturtiums, beets |
|---|---|
| Keep apart | Strawberries; tomatoes and pole beans |
Onions, garlic and thyme help mask cabbage from pests, and dill attracts wasps that prey on caterpillars. Celery is said to deter cabbage white butterflies. Check other pairings with the companion plant finder.
Common problems
| Problem | What you see | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Cabbage worms and loopers | Green caterpillars and holes in leaves and heads | Use row cover from planting, hand-pick caterpillars or spray Bt. See the pest identifier. |
| Split heads | Mature heads crack open | Caused by a sudden flush of water after dry weather. Water evenly, harvest promptly, or twist the plant to slow growth. |
| Cabbage root maggot | Young plants wilt and stall; maggots tunnel in roots | Put collars around stems at planting and use row cover. |
| Aphids | Gray, waxy clusters on leaves | Spray off with water and encourage ladybugs. |
| Heads fail to form | Plants grow leaves but no tight head | Usually heat, crowding or too little water and nitrogen. Plant to mature in cool weather and feed regularly. |
Not sure what you are looking at? The plant problem identifier ranks likely causes from the symptoms you see.
When and how to harvest
Cabbage is ready when the head is firm and solid when squeezed, at whatever size is normal for the variety. Cut the head off at the base with a sharp knife, leaving the outer leaves and stem in place. Early varieties often grow several small new heads from the stump.
Harvest promptly once heads are firm, because they split if left too long. Fall cabbage tolerates frosts down to the low 20s°F. Store heads in the fridge or a cold, humid root cellar; late storage varieties keep for several months. Use the harvest date calculator to estimate your harvest.
Plan your cabbage
- Plant spacing calculator: how many plants fit your bed
- Planting calendar: sowing and transplant dates for your frost dates
- Frost dates by ZIP code: your last spring and first fall frost
- Harvest date calculator: when your crop will be ready
Frequently asked questions
How far apart should I plant cabbage?
Space cabbage 18 inches apart in rows 30 inches apart. In a square foot garden, plant 1 per square foot.
How deep do I plant cabbage seeds?
Sow seeds ½ inch deep. Set transplants slightly deeper than they grew, with the lowest leaves just above the soil.
How long does cabbage take to grow?
Most varieties are ready 70–100 days from transplant. Check the seed packet, because early and late varieties differ.
How much water does cabbage need?
About 1 inch of water a week, from rain and watering combined. Keep watering steady; a sudden soaking after dry weather splits heads.
Why are my cabbage heads splitting?
Heads split when they take up a lot of water quickly, often after heavy rain following dry weather. Water evenly and harvest heads as soon as they are firm.
How do I know when cabbage is ready?
Squeeze the head: when it is firm and solid all the way through, it is ready. Size depends on the variety.