From tight heads the size of a good-sized apple to sprouts strung up a tall stem and domed heads of cauliflower, the cabbage family (Brassica) covers the whole kitchen garden year. Give it cool, deep, rich soil in full sun and staggered sowings will feed you from spring until the end of winter.
| Name | Brassica |
|---|---|
| Family | Brassicaceae |
| Type | biennial vegetable |
| Exposure | full sun |
| Soil | Cool, deep, moist and rich |
| Harvest | All year round depending on the variety |
Special care, from sowing and planting to harvesting, will help you get magnificent cabbage.
Cabbage comes in different varieties and each requires specific growing conditions and planting times.
Headed cabbage (like white or savoy cabbage), Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and broccoli, here is how to grow them all.
If you choose and sow different varieties, you’ll be able to harvest cabbage from spring until the end of winter.
Sow headed cabbage at the end of winter or at the beginning of spring in a nursery.
Savoy and white cabbage can be started before kale.
Growing cauliflower takes much longer, since it needs nearly 7 months from seed to harvest.
Brussels sprouts are generally sown at the end of winter or in spring in a sheltered place.
Each member of the cabbage family has its own timetable, so choosing two or three types keeps the kitchen garden in leaf almost all year. Use the table to match a sowing date to the harvest you want.
| Type | When to sow | When to harvest | Sign it is ready |
|---|---|---|---|
| Headed cabbage (savoy, white, kale) | Late winter/early spring in a nursery, or early spring–mid-spring in the ground under cover | 2 months to 7 months after planting, depending on cultivar | Head as large as a good-sized apple |
| Cauliflower | Early spring–mid-spring in a sheltered place, or May straight in the ground | Fall from early sowings, winter from late spring sowings | Head well formed, then sliced off at ground level |
| Brussels sprouts | Nursery in early spring, transplanted in late spring | Picked a few at a time as the stem lengthens | Sprouts no larger than a ping-pong or golf ball |
| Broccoli | Early spring under shelter for early types; late spring or early summer for direct sowing | Late summer to early autumn from early sowings | Main head well formed and still tightly bunched |
| Napa or Chinese cabbage | Summer | Fall until frost, and winter where winters are mild | Head sliced off at the base with a very sharp blade |
Sowing several of these in the same season is what stretches the cabbage harvest from spring right through to the end of winter.
Choosing the right cultivar matters as much as the sowing date, since each one is bred for a particular slot in the year. The varieties below are all easy to find in mainstream seed catalogues and garden centres.
| Variety | Type | Harvest season | Head shape and colour | Best used for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midwinter King | Winter savoy type | Midwinter | Crinkled, green flushed purple | Hearty winter cooking |
| Golden Acre | Summer ballhead | Summer | Round, bright green | Fresh cutting, small gardens |
| Durham Early | Spring cabbage | Spring | Pointed, fresh green | Spring greens and early hearts |
| Ruby Perfection F1 | Storage red cabbage | Autumn | Compact round, dark red | Slaw and winter storage |
| Greyhound | Early summer pointed | Early to mid summer | Pointed, pale green | Crisp raw or lightly steamed |
| Stonehead F1 | Summer to autumn ballhead | Late summer to autumn | Very dense round, green | Coleslaw, stands well in the row |
| Tundra F1 | Hardy winter savoy | Midwinter to early spring | Savoyed, blue-green | Standing through hard frost |
| Red Drumhead | Autumn red cabbage | Autumn to early winter | Round, deep red-purple | Pickling and braising |
After sowing, how to care for cabbage
As soon as seedlings have sprouted at least 3 to 4 leaves, transplant them to their target location. Protect the cabbage seedlings if you need to plant before late spring.
There are various types of pests that will attack your cabbages at all stages of life. Young ones are particularly vulnerable to snails and slugs. Older ones attract females of the large white, a butterfly that lays eggs on leaves for its caterpillars to feed on.
Headed cabbage, both kale or white cabbage, need a few months to grow, but this span of time is highly variable, depending on the cultivar.
Some varieties can be harvested 2 months after planting, whereas others need up to 7 months.
Wait for the head to have grown as large as a good-sized apple before harvesting your headed cabbage.
→ Tasty stuffed cabbage roll recipe with savoy cabbage
Brussels sprouts begin to ripen from the bottom up, as the main stem grows taller and taller.
You only need to break off a few of the largest tiny cabbage heads that grow along the side of it when you need a few. Don’t let get any larger than a ping-pong or golf ball, or they’ll get more and more bitter.
Cauliflower can be harvested practically all year round, depending on when they were sown.
Wait for the head to form well, then slice it off at ground level.
Broccoli is harvested when the main head is well formed and still tightly bunched.
Cut just about 2 inches (5 cm) below the harvested head, to let your broccoli grow on: it’ll grow a few more heads. They’ll be smaller, for sure, but just as delicious!
This takes place in fall until frost spells hit, and even winter if the climate permits (mild winters).
Slice the head off at the base with a very sharp blade.
Provide your cabbage with extra nutrients (fertilizer, manure and seaweed-based compost) to boost growth and enhance your harvest!
