How to Grow Cabbage in Your Garden: A Simple Guide For Beginners

Cabbage is a cool-weather crop that can be grown in gardens across the country. It’s a versatile vegetable that can be used in a variety of dishes, from salads to slaws to soups. Cabbage is also relatively easy to grow, making it a great choice for beginner gardeners. In this article, we’ll give you a simple guide on how to grow cabbage in your garden. We’ll cover everything from choosing the right cabbage variety for your climate to planting and watering your cabbage plants. We’ll also give you tips on harvesting and storing your cabbage.

Selecting The Right Cabbage Variety

There are many different varieties of cabbage, each with slightly different tastes and growing characteristics. When choosing which type of cabbage to grow in your garden, you’ll want to consider both your growing region and the dishes you plan to make with your cabbage. Here are some of the most popular cabbage varieties: – Loose-Headed Savoy – This variety has loose, creamy-white heads with a mild taste. Loose-Headed Savoy cabbage is a great choice for growing in cooler regions. – Crisphead – Crisphead is a type of cabbage with tightly packed, very pale-green heads. This variety was developed for commercial growers, so it’s not recommended for home gardeners. – Curly-Leaf – This variety produces heads with crinkly, dark-green leaves. Curly-Leaf cabbage has a mild taste and a delicate texture. – Red – Red cabbage has red leaves that turn blue-green when cooked. It has a bold, slightly bitter flavour and a firm texture. Red cabbage is often used to make slaws, salads, and coleslaws.

Preparing Your Garden Bed

If you’re growing cabbage as a spring or fall crop, you’ll want to prepare your garden bed at least three months before the last expected frost date. If you’re growing cabbage as a summer crop, you’ll want to get your soil ready two months before the last expected frost date. First, you’ll want to break up the soil in your garden bed with a garden hoe or spade. Next, you’ll want to amend your soil with compost or manure. Planting your cabbage in soil that’s been enriched with compost or compost will help your plants grow strong and healthy. As you’re preparing your garden bed, you’ll also want to consider your soil’s pH level. Cabbage does best in slightly alkaline soil, with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. If your soil is more acidic, you can raise its pH by applying a soil supplement.

Planting Your Cabbage Seeds Or Transplants

Once you’ve prepared your garden bed and amended your soil, it’s time to plant your cabbage seeds or transplants. When planting seeds, you’ll want to plant one seed per planting hole, spacing your cabbage seeds between 18 and 24 inches apart. When planting transplants, you’ll want to space your cabbage plants 12 inches apart. As your cabbage plants grow, you’ll want to keep them well-watered. Cabbage plants are very water-thirsty and can quickly wilt and die if they’re not receiving enough water. If you live in a region with very hot summers, you may want to try growing cabbage in a container. Containers will help your cabbage plants stay cooler and will make watering and fertilizing your plants much easier.

Watering Your Cabbage Plants

Cabbage plants don’t require a lot of nutrients, but they do need lots of water. If you notice that your cabbage plants are wilting, they may be lacking water. Cabbage plants are very susceptible to wilting in hot weather, so you’ll want to make sure to water your plants regularly. You’ll also want to avoid watering your cabbage plants too often, as they don’t need extra water unless they’re wilting. If you water your cabbage plants too often, you run the risk of developing root rot. To prevent root rot, water your cabbage plants so that the soil is moist but not soggy. You can also water your cabbage plants by using a soaker hose.

Fertilizing Your Cabbage Plants

Cabbage plants don’t require much fertilizer. Most soil amendments are high in nitrogen, which is what cabbage plants need to grow their best. If you’re growing your cabbage plants in a container, you can use a balanced fertilizer like 10-10-10. If you’re growing your cabbage plants in the ground, you can use a fertilizer with a higher nitrogen content, like 16-16-8. When growing cabbage, it’s important to remember that fertilizer should be applied before planting, not once your plants are growing. If you fertilize your cabbage plants too early, it may promote the formation of large, coarse heads.

Controlling Pests And Diseases

Cabbage is susceptible to a few different pests and diseases, so it’s important to keep an eye on your cabbage plants as they grow. Here are some of the pests and diseases you may encounter: – Aphids – Aphids are tiny black insects that feed on a variety of garden plants, including cabbage. You’ll know if you have aphids on your cabbage plants if you see black spots on your leaves. You can control aphids by spraying your plants with an insecticidal soap. – Caterpillars – Caterpillars may feed on your cabbage leaves and heads. You can control caterpillars by spraying your plants with Bt, a natural insecticide that’s approved for organic gardens. – Cabbage Root Maggot – Cabbage root maggots are small flies that lay their eggs inside the roots of cabbage plants. If left untreated, the maggots will eat away at your cabbage roots, killing your plants. You can control cabbage root maggots by planting your cabbage plants in a barrier of diatomaceous earth. – Cabbage Sawflies – Cabbage sawflies are large, yellowish-green insects that feed on cabbage leaves. You can control sawflies by spraying your plants with Bt.

Harvesting And Storing Your Cabbage

Once your cabbage plants have grown large enough, it’s time to harvest them. Cabbage heads will stay fresh for about a month if you store them properly. Here’s how you can store your cabbage to extend its freshness: – Place your cabbage heads in a perforated plastic bag. This will allow any excess moisture to evaporate while keeping your cabbage heads protected from insects. – Store your cabbage in a dark, cool place, like a basement or a garage. You’ll want to keep your cabbage away from heat and sunlight, which can make it spoil quicker. – Cabbage can be stored for several weeks when it’s properly prepared. To prolong the shelf life of your cabbage, make sure it’s dry before storing it. If your cabbage heads are getting close to their expiration date, you can transform them into a delicious and nutritious homemade slaw.

What To Do With Spoiled Cabbage

Although freshly harvested cabbage can be stored for several weeks, you’ll eventually need to deal with a spoiled cabbage head. When your cabbage has reached the end of its shelf life, don’t throw it out! Instead, you can use it to make a healthy batch of homemade sauerkraut. Homemade sauerkraut is full of probiotic bacteria, which are good for your digestive health. You can also use fermented cabbage to make kimchi, a spicy Korean side dish. You can also use spoiled cabbage to make homemade compost. Spoiled cabbage is an excellent source of nitrogen and can be used to help speed up the composting process.

Conclusion

Growing cabbage in your garden will be a rewarding experience that can be enjoyed by gardeners of all skill levels. You’ll want to choose the right variety of cabbage for your growing region and make sure to properly prepare your garden bed before planting. You’ll also want to make sure your cabbage plants get enough water. If you follow these tips and keep an eye on your cabbage plants, you’ll have delicious, fresh produce to enjoy all year round.