Cabbage Seeds (Winter)

West Coast Seeds, Cabbage Seeds (Winter) - Additional Information

How to Grow Cabbage

Planting:
Kick off your cabbage planting indoors in late winter, moving them outside 2 weeks post the last frost date through early summer. For overwintering varieties, sow directly in the garden in July in regions with mild winters. Aim for a soil temperature of 10-30°C (50-85°F) for ideal germination within 7-10 days.


Seed Starting:
Plant 3 or 4 seeds in each pot at a depth of 5mm (¼”), ensuring they receive plenty of light. Keep the strongest seedling and space your transplants 45-60cm (18-24″) apart in rows 60-90cm (24-36″) apart.


Growing:
Aim for a soil pH between 6.5-7.0. Cabbages thrive in well-amended, humus-rich soil. Incorporate ½ cup of complete organic fertilizer under each transplant for best results. If growth stalls, a side dressing of balanced organic fertilizer can help. To prevent early varieties from splitting due to rapid growth or over-maturity, try twisting the plant or deeply cultivating next to it to disrupt root growth. Fall and winter varieties are less prone to splitting. Adjust maturity dates for direct-sown seeds by adding 20-25 days.
Note: Non-heading cabbages may result from excessive nitrogen or too warm temperatures, which hinder head formation.


Harvesting:
Harvest cabbages when heads feel firm and dense. Avoid letting them over-mature to prevent splitting, which can occur with excessive water or fertility. For a continuous supply, grow early, mid-season, and late varieties. Late varieties are ideal for storage or sauerkraut, while early varieties are best enjoyed fresh.

Diseases & Pests

Flea Beetle:
To shield your cabbage plants from early flea beetle damage, employ row covers right after planting, removing them as mid-summer heat intensifies. Keeping the area weed-free also helps in managing these pests.


Cutworms:
Maintain a weed-free environment to deter cutworms. Placing cardboard collars around the base of each plant offers an effective barrier against these nocturnal feeders.


Cabbage Root Maggot:
The larvae of cabbage root maggots bore into roots, causing significant damage, including wilting and potentially plant death. Early protection with row covers can prevent infestation.


Cabbageworms:
Regularly inspect plants and manually remove and destroy any found cabbageworms. Row covers can provide an additional defence against these pests for smaller gardens.


Cabbage Aphids:
Dislodge aphids from your plants with a strong jet of water, ideally performed early in the day to allow plants to dry off.


Purple Blotch:
Minimize foliage moisture by watering early in the day, allowing plants to dry quickly. Promote good air circulation by avoiding overcrowding and pulling weeds to reduce humidity around plants. Remove and dispose of any affected plant parts when the foliage is dry. In the fall, clean up and destroy all fallen or diseased foliage.


Clubroot:
Add lime for soils afflicted with clubroot, and adjust the soil pH to 7.2. Implementing crop rotation can prevent this disease; if rotation isn’t feasible, replace the contaminated soil with fresh, clean soil. Use healthy transplants or start seeds in a sterile potting mix. Infected plants and the surrounding soil should be removed and destroyed to prevent spread.