Melinda Myers

Cabbage

Botanical Name

Brassica oleracea var. capitata

Hardiness

Annual

Height

1 to 2 feet

Width

18 to 36 inches

Fruit

Foliage in shades of green, red and purple with a variety of textures

Light

Full sun

Soil

Moist, well-drained

Planting & Care

• Sow seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost or direct sow outdoors as soon as ground can be worked
• Seeds will germinate in temperatures as low as 40°F to 85°F
• Sow ¹/₂ to ³/₄ inch deep, 3 inches apart. Thin to desired spacing. Plants should be spaced 12-24 inches apart in rows 18-34 inches apart depending on variety and size.
• Use floating row covers to protect young plants from cabbage worms and other pests

Problems

Cabbage yellows, black rot, black leg, cabbage root maggot, cabbage worms, cutworms, slugs, loopers, thrips

Varieties

• Cheers - green variety with good tolerance to black rot, thrips and yellows
• Savoy Queen - savoy variety with good heat tolerance
• Ruby Ball - resists both cold and heat, All-America Selections winner
• Katarina - smaller head size, good for smaller gardens and containers, early to mature, sweet flavor, AAS winner