by Kimberley A. Willis

Created on: February 08, 2010

The best varieties of cabbage for container gardens.

 If you enjoy cabbage but don’t have a lot of garden space, don’t despair.  There are several varieties of cabbage that can grow in containers, as long as you have a spot that gets 5 or more hours of sunlight each day.  Cabbage grows best in the cool times of the year and late spring and early fall make ideal times to grow cabbage.   Chinese cabbage actually does better in the fall.  Regular cabbage will withstand light frost but oriental varieties should be protected from frost.  All cabbage should be harvested before a freeze.

 Some container cabbage varieties

 These varieties are all small and mature quickly.  Each head will make 1-4 servings of cabbage, depending on the size it is when harvested and how well you like cabbage.   Alcosa is a savoy cabbage, meaning it has crinkly leaves.  It is green and makes about a 2 lb head in around 62 days.  Gonzales is a green cabbage that makes a 2 lb head in 60 days.  Primero is a red cabbage that makes a 1-2 lb head in 72 days.  Parel is a deep blue green cabbage that makes about a 2 lb head in only 50 days.  Red Express will also grow quickly, making a red, 2 lb head in about 55 days.  Earliana is a fast maturing green cabbage, making a 2 lb head in 57 days.  A 2 lb head is just a bit larger than a softball.

 Slightly larger at 3-4 pounds, but an extremely flavorful, gourmet, Italian heirloom variety is the pointed head, green cabbage Cour Di Bul.

 If you prefer Oriental types of cabbage, Soloist is a Chinese cabbage that makes a compact,  pointed ,1-1/2 lb head in only 50 days.  It is best grown in the fall.

 Toy Choi, Ching Chaing and Bonsai are miniature forms of pak choi cabbage that will make single servings of greens in 30-40 days.   Several plants can grow in a 2 gallon pot.

 It may be hard to find the varieties of cabbage suitable for container growing as small transplants in a garden center.  This is especially true if you are going to grow cabbage in the fall.  However cabbage starts easily from seed and you can start the seed right in the pots it will grow in.  If you start from seed, add about a month to the length of time to maturity.  The varieties of cabbage seed listed for container growing can be purchased from several mail order nurseries, such as Parks, Territorial and Jungs.

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