How To Grow Organic Cabbage?

WHEN TO PLANT

• Start growing cabbage seeds indoors 4 weeks before last frost
• For a continual harvest, plant cabbage in your garden every two weeks after the last frost date, planting the last crop in July for storage in the fall
• Due to the cold Pacific Ocean moderating the warmer temperatures, growing cabbages year around in California is done quite successfully

WHERE TO PLANT

• When growing cabbages, you should plant them in full sun and very fertile, well-drained soil

PREPARING THE SOIL

• All members of the brassica family (such as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, collards, kale, and Brussels sprouts, to name a few) consume large quantities of soil nutrients
• Add plenty of well-rotted manure and compost to the soil before planting
• Cabbage plants prefer a liberal, balanced amount of nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus
• Many problems with cabbage are avoided when the pH level is right around 7.2
• If your soil pH is low, adding lime will bring it up

SEEDS AND GERMINATION

• Cabbage seeds germinate in soil temperatures as low as 50°F, and take approx. 2 weeks to germinate
• The ideal temperature for germination is 80-85°F; at this temperature cabbage seeds take only 3-4 days to sprout
• Your cabbage seeds should last up to 5 years after your initial purchase if you store them in a cool, dry location

GETTING STARTED INDOORS (and transplanting)

• Cabbage is very susceptible to transplant shock but with care, cabbage seeds can be started indoors for faster germination
• Start cabbage seeds indoors in flats ¼ “ deep and 2” apart
• Set flats in a sunny location or under grow lights with a temperature of 65-75°F (some varieties can germinate in lower temperatures)
• Once the seedlings have emerged, keep the air temperature between 60-65°F
• Seedlings can be transplanted once the outside temperatures reach a steady 50°F and the seedlings have developed three true leaves
• Harden off seedlings (set out during the day and bring in at night) for a minimum of one week before planting outside
• Plants should be watered well when transplanting
• When transplanting, be careful not to disturb the root ball. Plant a little deeper than the previous indoor depth
• Choose a day to transplant that is cool and overcast. This will help prevent transplant root shock which can be caused by a changes in temperature and light, or not enough water

SOWING AND GROWING (Planting seeds directly into the garden)

• Space cabbages 12 to 18 inches apart; rows should be spaced 2 to 3 feet apart to allow for spreading roots
• Wider spacing provides space for larger heads to develop but young, smaller headed cabbages are more tender and flavorful
• Space cabbages 12 inches apart and harvest every other one when about the size of a softball for fresh eating, leaving the rest to fully mature for storage
• Jenny’s Tip: This year we discovered a liquid organic leaf spray fertilizer called Organic Garden Miracle™. We sprayed it bi-weekly on our garden plants and were able to taste the sweet results this produced in our plants. OGM naturally stimulates the creation of plant sugar in your plants; plant sugar is what makes your plant robust, bear flowers and fruit, and flavors your fruits and vegetables. Really good warranty too!
• Weeds significantly slow the growth of young cabbage
• Once the heads begin to form, hand weeding is recommended. Applying a layer of mulch will help keep the weeds under control and help maintain even moisture levels
• Be extremely cautious of cabbage’s shallow, dense root system which can be easily damaged by using garden tools
• If a weed is growing too close to the root system, clip it at ground level
• Cabbage heads are prone to splitting. The reason is fluctuation in soil moisture and overgrown heads
• To prevent splitting, keep soil moisture levels even and harvest earlier
• Once a head is formed, plunging the blade of a spade or shovel into the soil on one side of the plant will cut some of the roots, slowing the bolting process (going to seed)

WATERING

• Waterlogged soil will decrease the quality of cabbage
• Keep moisture levels even and soil well-drained throughout the growing season
• Organic matter is necessary due to its ability to hold or drain excess moisture

COMPANION PLANTING / ROTATION

• Cabbage grows well with most aromatic herbs, especially chamomile
• Clover planted in spaces between cabbage has been effective as a living mulch, preventing pests from accessing bare ground on which to hatch their eggs
• Celery as been observed to strengthen and promote the growth of cabbage
• Bad companions: Tomatoes, dill, pole beans, and strawberries
• Avoid following other cabbage family plants (also known as “brassica” family)

WHEN TO HARVEST

• Cabbage heads can be harvested when the head becomes firm
• For the most tender, flavorful heads, harvest when the size of a softball; what they are lacking in size these small heads will make up in flavor. When harvested at this size, the plant will often produce a second head
• Allow heads to mature for the highest yields. (See “Spacing” for harvesting tips)
• Be sure to keep an eye on the weather forecast. It it rains, it may cause fully-ripened cabbage heads to split. If this happens, you have a limited time to harvest them or they will begin to rot
• At harvest time, cut as close to the head as possible; this will allow for more small heads to grow. These can grow 2 or more inches and are quite tasty

STORAGE

• Bruised heads will have a shortened storage life
• Sauerkraut is a popular way to preserve cabbage
• For late varieties, pull whole plant, roots intact, rather than cutting. Remove outer and damaged leaves
• Place on shelves or in a cellar wrapped in newspaper
• Red cabbage stores better than green. Early varieties do not store well

COMMON PESTS AND PROBLEMS

• There are a few things you can do to keep your cabbage from being attacked by pests:

[pt_view id=”72760cc5gl”]