How to Grow Cabbage for Beginners

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Get our step-by-step walkthrough on how to grow cabbage for beginners. Whether you’ve grown it before and just need a few extra tips, or you’re completely new to the idea of growing cabbage, this guide will help you get started.

It’s another great addition to your Gardening 101 toolkit.

When I was a kid, I wasn’t exactly a fan of cabbage—in fact, I pretty much hated it.

My mom used to make stuffed cabbage rolls, and let’s just say the smell wasn’t exactly appealing to a younger me (or most kids, for that matter).

But now? It’s a whole different story. Funny how our tastes change as we grow up. These days, I can’t get enough of coleslaw, cabbage soup, and yes, even those stuffed cabbage rolls from my childhood are now some of my absolute favorite dishes.

Things to know about Cabbage

Cabbage is a cool-season vegetable, grown best in the spring and fall. It’s a hardy, leafy green that can be enjoyed both raw and cooked.

There are some great reasons to add cabbage to your garden, and your dinner table, including that they last longer than most vegetables do when stored in the refrigerator. Add to that the fact that they are crammed full of nutrients and how very versatile they are and you just might have a perfect backyard garden addition.

Cabbage can be added to soups and salads or shredded for coleslaw or added to stir-fry. Cabbage can be roasted, steamed, or grilled. It’s also great for weight loss, which is a delicious added bonus.

Fun Fact: Cabbage has been around for over 4,000 years and was even a favorite of ancient Egyptians and Romans. In fact, Roman soldiers believed eating cabbage before a feast would help prevent hangovers. To be fair, I have not tested this theory myself, but it’s still a pretty interesting piece of cabbage history.

Cabbage can, however, be a bit challenging for a beginner gardener especially if you don’t have the right growing conditions. It will only grow in cool temperatures and it can be very attractive to garden pests, welcoming them into your garden.

Doing a crop rotation every few years will help avoid some soil-borne diseases, but you’ll still need to watch for pests. Read our guide below to see how best to manage them.

Types of Cabbage

When it comes to cabbage, you’ve got three main types to choose from:

• Savoy Cabbage: Known for its crinkly, textured leaves, this variety forms a looser head compared to traditional head cabbages. It has a milder, sweeter flavor and a more delicate texture—perfect for salads or light cooking.
• Head Cabbage: The classic cabbage with tightly packed green or red leaves forming a round head. Early and mid-season varieties are smaller and grow faster, while late-season types grow larger and are great for long-term storage.
• Oriental Cabbage: This type grows in an oblong shape, almost like celery, and comes in both short and tall varieties. Popular options include Napa and Bok Choy, which are staples in many Asian dishes.

Varieties of Cabbage

Whether you’re planning your first cabbage patch or looking to try something new, there’s a variety out there for every gardener and every season. Here are some great options to consider:

• Primo or Stonehead: Perfect for an early harvest.
• Golden Acre and Quick Start: These mature quickly and produce 3-pound heads.
• Alcosa (early) and Wirose (late, overwintering): Both belong to the Savoy cabbage family.
• Early Jersey Wakefield: An heirloom variety that resists splitting.
• Gonzales: Produces small, tennis ball-sized heads—ideal for small gardens.
• Blue Vantage and Cheers: Known for their disease resistance.
• Integro, Ruby Perfection (red), and Li Ren Choy (baby bok choy): Great choices for fall planting.

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How Many Cabbages to Plant

A good rule of thumb is to plant 3 to 5 cabbage plants per person in your household. This should give you a healthy harvest to enjoy fresh, with enough left over for recipes like coleslaw, soups, or even homemade sauerkraut. If you’re a big cabbage fan or love to preserve your harvest, consider planting a few extra to keep the goodness going all year long.

Seeds or Plants

One of the first things to decide when starting your cabbage patch is whether to go with seeds or plants. Seeds are the budget-friendly choice, but they do take more time and effort to get going. Plants, on the other hand, let you skip the waiting game and dive straight into growing.

Both options work great—it really comes down to your budget, gardening experience, and how much time you’re ready to invest.

What You Need to Grow Cabbage

Before you get started, it’s important to have the right setup to give your plants the best chance to thrive. 

• When to Plant: Cabbage thrives in cooler temperatures, so aim to plant during the cooler months, like early spring or late summer, for a fall harvest.
• Sun: Cabbage may hate the heat but it loves the sun. Make sure it gets at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day for the best growth.
• Soil: You’ll need nutrient-rich, well-draining soil. Adding compost or organic matter can give your cabbage a healthy boost.
• Location: Choose a spot with plenty of sunlight and good air circulation to prevent diseases. Avoid planting cabbage in the same spot where other brassicas (like broccoli or cauliflower) have grown recently to reduce the risk of pests and soil-borne diseases.

How to Grow Cabbage for Beginners

Most varieties take about 70 days to mature when seedlings are planted. Depending on the variety, you can expect them to take 80-180 from seeds or 60-105 days from transplants. They’ll be ready to harvest when the heads reach the desired size and are firm. If they’re left on the stem too long, the heads may split so keep an eye on them as they near maturity.

#1. Temperature

Cabbage prefers cooler temperatures and does well between 55° and 75° F. Check the soil temperature as well, it should be between 60° and 65° F ideally.

When to Plant Cabbage – For a spring harvest, start seeds indoors in mid-to-late February and transplant them about 4 weeks later, around late March, before the last frost.

For a fall harvest, sow seeds directly outdoors in mid-to-late summer, or start them indoors and transplant once sturdy. In hot, dry areas, wait until late summer to avoid seedlings drying out in the heat.

#2. Sun

Even though cabbage loves cooler weather, it’s still a sun-loving plant. Make sure it gets 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight each day for the best results.

#3. Soil

Cabbage thrives in rich, well-draining soil. Standing water around the roots can harm the plants, so prep your beds by mixing in 2 to 3 inches of aged compost or organic planting mix and turning it about 12 inches deep.

Aim for a soil pH between 6.5 and 6.8, but if clubroot disease is an issue, raise the pH to 7.0 or slightly higher with lime. IF you are not sure of your soil, you can use a pH tester to find out.

In sandy soils or areas with heavy rain, boost the soil with nitrogen. Adding nitrogen-rich options like blood meal or cottonseed meal before planting will help encourage healthy, leafy growth.

#4. Water

Cabbage plants need plenty of water, about 2 inches per square foot per week. Make sure you give the soil a good soaking a few times a week.

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#5. Fertilizing

Fertilize the plants about 2 weeks after transplanting with a balance 10-10-10 fertilizer to help them flourish. Three weeks later, add a nitrogen-rich fertilizer. Cabbage needs plenty of nitrogen in the early stages of growth.

How to Plant Cabbage

Planting cabbage will take a little pre-planning. You’ll need to know where to plant first so that you can ensure your plants will receive enough sunlight. You will also want to be sure you have enough time to prepare the soil.

Cabbage is a heavy feeder and will soak up all the nutrients in the soil quickly so you’ll want to mix in aged manure or compost before planting to make sure the cabbage heads have plenty of nutrients to grow.

Special Tips for Seedlings

Start your seeds indoors about 6–8 weeks before the last spring frost, sowing them ¼ inch deep. Before planting, harden off your seedlings over a week to help them adjust to outdoor conditions.

To harden them off, place seedlings in a sheltered spot like a cold frame, unheated greenhouse, or partially protected area. Keep them off the ground to avoid slugs and birds, and shield them from strong winds—using a cart or garden wagon makes moving them in and out easy.

Begin on a calm, overcast day with steady temperatures. Water the seedlings, then place them outside for 2 hours. Gradually increase their outdoor time and sunlight exposure each day. After a week or two, they’ll be ready to plant, and if frost isn’t a concern, you can leave them out overnight.

Spacing: For seedlings, space them 18–24 inches apart in rows 24–36 inches apart. If planting seeds, sow them 1 inch apart and thin to 18–24 inches once they sprout. Closer spacing means smaller heads, while wider spacing allows for larger ones.

Depth: When planting cabbage seeds, go about ½ inch deep outdoors or ¼ inch deep indoors. For transplants, wait until they have 4–5 true leaves. If the stems are leggy or crooked, plant them a bit deeper—1–2 inches—just below the top two sets of leaves.

Thin: When the seedlings are about 5 to 6 inches tall, thin the plants to leave the desired spacing. If you’d like, you can replant the thinned seedlings elsewhere.

Mulch: Add a layer of mulch around your garden, but be careful not to cover the plants themselves. Mulch helps the soil hold onto moisture and keeps the temperature steady—ideally between 60–65°F for the best growth.

If temperatures drop below 45°F for too long, seedlings might bolt or form loose heads, so be ready to cover your plants if cold weather is on the way.

Read the Benefits of Mulching Your Garden for more tips on how to grow better using natural approaches.

What Diseases and Pests to Watch For

Cabbage can attract a variety of pests and diseases, so it’s important to stay vigilant. Here are some common issues and tips for managing them:

• Aphids: These tiny pests cluster on leaves and suck out plant juices. Blast them off with water or use insecticidal soap.
• Black Rot: A bacterial disease that causes yellowing and wilting. Prevent it by rotating crops and avoiding overhead watering. Remove infected plants immediately.
• Cabbage Loopers & Cabbageworms: These caterpillars chew through leaves. Handpick them or use a natural spray like Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt).
• Cabbage Root Maggots: These pests attack roots, causing plants to wilt. Use row covers to prevent egg-laying and rotate crops yearly.
• Clubroot: A fungal disease that stunts growth and causes swollen roots. Raise soil pH to 7.0+ with lime and avoid planting in infected areas.
• Flea Beetles: These tiny beetles leave small holes in leaves. Use floating row covers and apply neem oil if needed.
• Downy Mildew: A fungal disease that creates yellow spots and fuzzy growth. Ensure good air circulation and avoid wetting leaves.
• Slugs and Snails: These pests munch on leaves, especially at night. Use beer traps, handpick them, or sprinkle diatomaceous earth around plants.
• Stinkbugs: These pests pierce leaves and cause discoloration. Handpick them or use insecticidal soap.

Regularly inspect your plants, especially the leaves, for signs of damage or pests. Early detection is key, and insecticidal soap can be a great all-purpose solution for many of these issues.

How to Harvest Cabbage

When the cabbage heads reach the desired size and are firm, you’re ready to harvest. Most varieties will produce 1-to-3-pound heads.

To harvest, cut the cabbage head at its base using a sharp knife. Remove any yellow leaves but keep any loose green leaves, they’ll protect the head during storage. Immediately bring the harvested cabbage heads indoors or place them in a shady spot away from sunlight.

If you’d like to get 2 crops, cut the cabbage head out of the plant, leaving the outer leaves and the roots in the garden. The plant will form new heads. Pinch those off until only 3 or 4 remain then harvest them when they’re about the size of a tennis ball, they’ll be perfect for salads.

After harvesting, remove the entire stem and root system to prevent disease. Be sure that you only compost healthy plants and destroy any that have pest infestations.

How to Store Cabbage

Cabbage keeps well in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Just make sure it’s dry and loosely wrapped in plastic wrap.

For longer storage, remove any loose leaves, wrap them in a damp paper towel, and pop them into a plastic bag in the fridge—they’ll last about 3–4 weeks this way.

If you’ve got a root cellar with the right conditions, cabbage can stay fresh for up to 3 months.

Growing Tips for Cabbage

• Rotate your cabbage crop annually to avoid a build-up of soil-borne diseases. Don’t plant in the same area for at least 3 years.
• To reduce pests, plant onions, radishes, and nasturtiums near cabbage plants.
• Use row covers when the plants are young to protect them.
• Place a protective collar around young plants using newspaper strips to deter cutworms.
• Check the plants for caterpillars in the morning and at night and hand pick them off.
• Spray aphids with water or treat the plants with insecticidal soap.
• After harvesting, you can add healthy plants and roots to your compost pile, but destroy any plants that have been infected.
• To prevent soilborne diseases from attacking your garden, remove the entire cabbage plants, including the root system, from the ground.
• Uneven watering can produce stunted and cracked heads. Water evenly and lay a heavy layer of mulch to keep the soil cool and help it retain moisture.
• Cabbage heads will split when they are grown too fast or retain too much water. To prevent this from happening, a week before harvesting twist the heads a quarter turn to separate some of the roots and interrupt the water uptake.
• Cabbage plants are heavy feeders and deplete the soils nutrients quickly. Feed young plants with fish emulsion and seaweed solution 2 weeks after planting and again 3 weeks later then feed monthly throughout the growing season.
• Cabbage can tolerate light freezes and the flavor improves with cold weather but harvest before the temperatures get too warm.

Cabbage can be a challenging vegetable to grow, but it’s so worth all the effort in the end. You may only produce a few heads the first season as you learn how to grow it, but your crops will improve every year and you’ll enjoy a bigger harvest.

There are so many ways you can use cabbage and so many health benefits that it offers, it’s worth making space in your garden for it. How to grow cabbage for beginners so you can be successful with this fun and delicious veggie.

More How to Grow Resources:

• How to Grow Potatoes
• How to Grow Sweet Corn
• How to Grow Broccoli