by Angie Pollock

Created on: July 28, 2009

Cabbage is one of the more popular vegetables found in the home garden. Excluding the far South, cabbage can be grown during the summer but will flourish during the cooler months. In areas such as South Florida, cabbage can be set during the fall months to be harvested as a late-winter to early-spring crop. Depending upon your location, cabbage can certainly be grown but it is a cool-weather vegetable and planting will vary depending upon your weather temperatures.

Using a quality seed or hardy seedlings, cabbage can be planted in rows 12 to 24 inches apart depending upon the variety. Seeds can be started indoors and transplanted six to eight weeks before the first frost of winter. For regions with mild summers, cabbage can be planted in the home garden in late winter to early spring or approximately four weeks before the last frost of winter. The cabbage should be planted in a well-draining soil that has access to a minimum of six hours of full sun daily.

Cabbage can be grown in a variety of soil types. The plants adapt well when the soil is of good texture, moist, and is fertile. Cabbage is a heavy feeder and will flourish with nutrient-rich compost or commercial fertilizers. Fertilizer should be added to the soil when planting and also throughout its growth. Nitrogenous fertilizers will benefit your cabbage plants. One pound of nitrates per 200 square feet of space (or 1/3 ounce per plant) approximately every three weeks should suffice.

Moisture is important for your plants and they should receive at least one to two inches of water weekly. Planting different varieties of cabbage plants also allows for different maturity times. This is crucial should you grow a lot of plants but do not have the space to store the cabbage heads. The heads are ready for harvesting when they are full and firm. Cabbage heads may appear ready but should be squeezed to fill for fullness within the head. Once mature, the head should be cut from the base of the plant.

To avoid common cabbage plant problems such as slugs, root maggots, and aphids, rotate your crops each year. Keep your garden clean and free of weeds to help prevent garden pests. Some gardeners still rely on commercial pesticides but these will also destroy the good bugs your garden needs like ladybugs and bees. The best organic way to remove unwanted pests is still the old-fashioned way - by hand. Slugs are attracted to beer which can be placed in a pie-tin. The slugs dive in and eventually drown. Depending upon your garden pest, there are many all-natural measures that gardeners can utilize to remove the creatures from their gardens.

The great part about growing cabbage is the different varieties available. Some are more adaptable to warmer climates while others prefer the cool north. There are types that mature more quickly while others take their sweet time. The first step in growing cabbage in your garden is to find the best type for your climate and your space. With minimal care, rich soil, moderate sun, and moisture, you will have cabbage flourishing in your own home garden.

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