When to plant cabbages

Four types, four calendars

There is no single date for cabbages. The RHS splits them into four types, each sown at a different time:

Spring cabbages are sown in July for overwintering. You harvest them as loose greens or as mature heads from mid-spring to mid-summer.

Summer cabbages are sown from late winter to mid-spring and harvested in mid to late summer.

Autumn cabbages are sown in mid-spring to early summer and harvested before winter.

Winter cabbages are sown in late spring or early summer. The RHS says they can stand in the ground for months, or be stored in a cool, frost-free place.

For sowing outdoors, the RHS gives months: February to April for summer cabbages, April to June for autumn and winter cabbages, and July for spring cabbages. Protect early sowings with cloches or biodegradable fleece.

Garden Organic's dates

Garden Organic gives a month for every step, which is handy for planting out.

For summer and autumn cabbages, it sows outdoors from March to mid May, plants out from mid May to June and harvests from July to October. The average time to harvest is 20 weeks.

For winter and savoy cabbages, it sows outdoors from mid April to May, plants out from mid June to July and harvests from mid October to February. These take 32–40 weeks on average. Garden Organic says they crop when little else is available.

For spring cabbages, it sows outdoors from July to August, plants out in September and October and harvests from March to May, again after 32–40 weeks on average.

The two sources mostly agree. The main difference is spring cabbages: the RHS says sow in July, Garden Organic July to August.

Sowing indoors and when to transplant

The RHS says indoor sowing times vary from late winter to summer, depending on the variety, so check the seed packet. Sow two seeds per module, 1 cm deep, and thin to one.

After about five weeks, when the plants are 10–15 cm tall with a good root system, move them outdoors. The RHS also says they are ready for their final site at that height with five or six true leaves. Harden off indoor-sown plants first, so their growth does not get a check.

Water the young plants regularly, and water them well the day before you transplant them.

Sowing outdoors: how deep?

The sources give different depths. The RHS sows thinly in a drill about 2 cm deep in a seedbed, then transplants. You can also sow straight into the final spot: the RHS sows three seeds every 30–45 cm and thins each group to one seedling.

Garden Organic sows cabbage seed 0.5 cm deep, in pots or a seedbed, and says seeds germinate in 7–12 days.

Soil and site

The RHS grows cabbages in a sunny site with fertile, free-draining soil, avoiding ground that gets waterlogged. Do not grow cabbages or other brassicas there if they grew there in the previous couple of years.

Aim for a pH above 6 to deter club root. If your soil is very acidic, apply lime the winter before sowing. The RHS also adds two bucketfuls of garden compost per square metre, ideally the previous autumn. See our compost guide for how to make your own.

Before sowing or planting, the RHS firms the soil by shuffling across the surface on your heels. Garden Organic also says to plant firmly.

Planting out and spacing

When you transplant, the RHS sets each plant more deeply than it was, with its lowest leaves at the soil surface.

Spacing depends on size. The RHS spaces compact varieties 30 cm apart and larger varieties up to 45 cm. Spring cabbages start 10 cm apart and are thinned to 30 cm in late February or March.

Garden Organic gives 30 cm for summer and autumn cabbages (45 cm for larger heads), 50 cm for winter and savoy cabbages (closer for smaller-headed varieties), and 10 × 30 cm for spring cabbages.

Watering after planting

Once the plants are established, the RHS gives the ground a thorough soaking every 10 days in dry spells. Extra water helps once the heads start to form.

Garden Organic waters in dry weather and mulches to keep moisture in. It feeds summer and autumn cabbages with a general organic fertiliser in summer.

Pests and club root

The RHS says it is best to keep cabbages covered with insect-proof mesh, supported on hoops or bamboo canes. That keeps off caterpillars, pigeons, cabbage white butterflies, root fly and whitefly. Garden Organic also nets cabbages against cabbage white butterflies.

Both sources warn about slugs. Garden Organic says slugs love cabbage, so keep young plants well protected. Our slugs guide covers what UK sources say works.

Against club root, the RHS grows cabbages in a different spot each year, chooses resistant varieties with an RHS Award of Garden Merit, sows indoors, or grows them in containers. After harvest, dig out the stumps to deter brassica diseases.

Winter cabbages in autumn

In autumn, Garden Organic pulls soil up around the stems of winter and savoy cabbages, and firms any plants loosened by winter weather. Remove yellowing leaves.

Hardy varieties can be cut as you need them once a compact heart forms. Garden Organic cuts hearted white and red varieties before a frost. Most varieties hold well in the ground, or can be stored on slatted shelves in a dry shed.