Vegetable Grow Guides
How to Grow Organic Cabbage from Seed
Brassica oleracea var. capitata
About Cabbage
Cabbage is a cool-season heading brassica. Split heads usually mean uneven water after a dry spell. Choose early (60-day) types for spring and storage types for fall.
When to Plant
Start indoors 4–6 weeks before last frost; set out 2–3 weeks before last frost. For fall, start 10–12 weeks before first frost.
How to Plant
Transplant 12–24 inches apart depending on head size (small 12 in, large 18–24 in), rows 24–36 inches. Keep soil evenly moist. A 2-inch compost mulch steadies moisture and keeps heads from splitting.
When to Harvest
Cut when the head is firm all the way through when squeezed, leaving 2 wrapper leaves on the head. In Zones 7+, you can mulch mature plants and harvest into winter. Do not wait until heads split or rot.
Overwintering
In mild-winter regions, late plantings can stand under mulch. In cold Zones 3–6, harvest before a hard freeze or store heads at 32–40°F in high humidity.