Whether you garden in the ground, in raised beds, on the patio, or anywhere else, cabbage is a great addition or re-addition to your plant family. Read on for simple, straightforward specifics about growing cabbage.
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Family | Container Size | Good Companions | Bad Companions | Soil Conditions | Germination | Sun | Water | Temperature Range | Height | Lifespan | Reproduction | Yield Per Plant | Ingestibility | Further Reading
What Family Does Cabbage Belong To?
Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) belongs to the Brassicaceae family, also known as the cabbage family.
Some of its relatives include cauliflower, tatsoi, and radishes.
What Size Container Should I Use for Growing Cabbage?
The minimum container depth recommended for cabbage is 10 inches.
The container should also be at least 10 inches wide.
Learn more in our Choosing the Right Planter for Your Container Garden article here.
What Are Good Companion Plants for Cabbage?
Some of cabbage's best companions are as follows:
- Onion
- Garlic
- Leek
- Shallot
- Ramps
- Chives
- Dill
- Rosemary
- Geranium
- Spinach
- Arugula
- Corn
- Peas
- Beans like green beans
- Cornsalad
- Marigold
- Nasturtium
- Yarrow
- Celery
- Lovage
- Sage
- Cucumber
- Lettuce
- Artichoke
- Basil
- Chamomile
- Mints such as spearmint and peppermint
- Thyme
- Cilantro
- Lemongrass
- Catmint
- Catnip
- Buckwheat
- Chard
What Are Bad Companion Plants for Cabbage?
Cabbage is not compatible with every plant. Some things to avoid planting with cabbage are as follows:
- Strawberry
- Fennel
- Sunflower
- Tomato
- Peppers such as bell pepper and poblano
- Eggplant
- Potato
What Soil Conditions Does Cabbage Need?
Cabbage prefers well-draining, rich, loamy soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5.
How Long Does Cabbage Take to Germinate?
Cabbage takes 1-2 weeks to germinate at a temperature of 45-85°F.
How Much Sun Does Cabbage Need?
Cabbage prefers full sun in cool and cold conditions. If you are growing cabbage in the fall, winter, and/or early spring, full sun is best.
If you are growing cabbage in warm or hot conditions, it will tolerate a range of full sun to part shade. In fact, if temperatures are above 70ºF, cabbage grown in dappled shade or part shade is less likely to bolt or wilt than if it was grown in full sun.
Sun recommendations can vary by region and other growing conditions.
How Much Water Does Cabbage Need?
Cabbage needs 1.5 inches of water per week.
What Is the Ideal Temperature Range for Growing Cabbage?
Cabbage grows fastest in temperatures of 55-75°F.
This is its ideal temperature range. Although it will grow in temperatures both cooler and warmer than this range, the growth could be slower or even stunted.
Minimum and maximum temperatures will vary by variety. Some cabbage varieties are bred for cold-weather harvests and others for warmer climates.
How Tall Does Cabbage Get?
The average height of cabbage is 1-3 feet.
Is Cabbage Annual, Biennial, or Perennial?
Most cabbage varieties are biennial, meaning that their life cycles span 2 years, and they flower, produce seed, and die in their second year.
A few varieties are perennial, meaning that they live for longer than a couple years.
How Does Cabbage Reproduce?
Cabbage reproduces by seed.
How Much Cabbage is Produced Per Plant?
For cabbage, how much is produced per plant (also called the yield) largely depends on the type and variety.
On average, each cabbage plant produces 1 head that weighs 1-3 pounds.
Most types of cabbage grow in a "cut and come again" pattern. This means that leaves can be harvested from the outside of the head, and the plant will continue producing more leaves, which grow from the middle of the head. For this reason, frequently harvesting leaves from the outside will encourage the plant to continue producing new leaves.
Can Cabbage Be Ingested?
Cabbage leaves are edible.
Cabbage leaves have antioxidant and carminative properties and can be used in herbal preparations. The most common preparations are tea and broths, but a tincture can also be made with the leaves. An herb:solvent weight ratio of 1:5 at 40% alcohol is suggested for a cabbage leaf tincture.
There are no known safety concerns associated with ingesting cabbage leaves.
Further Reading
This article is intended as a quick-reference guide for gardeners. Consult your seed packet or seed catalog for variety-specific information.
When you have a bumper crop of cabbage rolling in, you may not have enough time for long, complicated recipes or many-step preservation procedures. Check out my article on quick, simple uses for cabbage here!
Cabbage is featured in these Plant to Plate articles: