How to Sow and Grow Cabbages

Cabbages might not be the most glamorous crop in the garden, but they are an absolute staple for any veg grower. Whether you fancy a vibrant red cabbage for slaws, a crisp white for sauerkraut, or a deeply crinkled Savoy for winter stews, there’s a variety to suit every taste. And let’s not forget the satisfaction of growing your own dense, leafy heads rather than paying supermarket prices for something that’s probably been shipped halfway around the world!

Choosing Your Cabbage Variety

Before you get sowing, think about what you actually want from your cabbages. Do you want a quick-growing summer variety, or are you after something hardy that will sit happily in your garden through the colder months? Heritage and heirloom varieties are well worth considering—not only do they bring fantastic flavours and textures, but they also help keep biodiversity alive and thriving.

Here are a few standout heritage varieties to consider:

• January King – A stunning purple-tinged winter cabbage that can withstand the harshest weather.
• Holland Late Winter – A fun, easy to grow heirloom white cabbage, dating back to 1846, that produces impressively large heads with a firm texture and creamy-white hearts.
• Summer Cabbage Kalibos – Kalibos is a sweet flavoured, pointed red cabbage producing vibrant purple heads that weigh around 2kg. Because of its heat tolerance it is a great choice for summer growing.
• Savoy Aubervilliers – This is an old and rare heirloom cabbage that originates from Aubervilliers near Paris. The area is famous for its fertile lands and high quality vegetables. This savoy style cabbage has wonderful crinkled green leaves in a relatively large tight head that have a delicious mild flavour that is never bitter and retain a lovely texture in cooking. 

When and How to Sow Cabbages

Cabbages can be grown almost year-round depending on the variety. The key to success is getting the timing right so your plants mature in the right season.

Spring and Summer Cabbages

For early summer crops, sow seeds indoors or in a greenhouse in late winter to early spring. You can start them in trays or modules to give them a strong start before planting out.

Autumn and Winter Cabbages

If you want cabbages for the colder months, sow your seeds in late spring to early summer. These varieties are typically hardier and can sit in the garden for months, providing fresh produce even when everything else has packed up for the year.

When sowing:

• Use a good-quality seed compost and plant seeds about 1cm deep.
• Keep trays in a bright, cool place—cabbages don’t need too much heat to germinate.
• Once seedlings have a couple of true leaves, pot them on into larger containers or plant them in a well-prepared seedbed outdoors.

Planting Out Your Cabbage Seedlings

Once your seedlings have outgrown their pots and have about 4–5 leaves, they’re ready to go out into the garden. Timing depends on the season and variety, but the key thing is making sure they don’t get hit by a late frost (unless they’re a hardy winter variety).

When planting out:

• Space plants at least 30–45cm apart—crowding leads to smaller heads and more pest problems.
• Firm the soil well around the base of the plant—cabbages hate wobbly roots!
• Water them in well and keep them hydrated, especially in warm weather.

Caring for Your Cabbages

Cabbages might be tough, but they do have their fair share of enemies. Keep an eye out for these common issues:

• Cabbage White Butterflies – These pesky critters will lay eggs on your plants, leading to an army of hungry caterpillars. Covering crops with mesh or fleece can save you a lot of heartache.
• Slugs and Snails – Particularly an issue with young plants. Try beer traps, wool pellets, or just go out in the evening with a torch and hand-pick them.
• Clubroot – A nasty fungal disease that affects brassicas. Rotate your crops each year and try growing resistant varieties if you’ve had problems before.

Other than that, keep them watered, give them the occasional feed (they love nitrogen-rich fertilisers like seaweed or chicken manure pellets), and remove any yellowing leaves to keep plants healthy.

Harvesting and Storing

Harvest your cabbages when they feel solid and firm to the touch. Don’t be afraid to cut them young if you prefer smaller, sweeter heads. Winter cabbages can sit happily in the ground until you’re ready to eat them, but if you need to store them, they’ll last for weeks in a cool, dark place.

Whether you go for a traditional heirloom variety or something a little more modern, cabbages are a fantastic crop to grow. They might take a bit of patience, but once you’ve mastered the basics, you’ll never look back. So, get sowing, and before you know it, you’ll have a garden full of leafy goodness ready to harvest!

Happy growing!