Cabbage Seeds

Brassica - oleracea

Cabbage is easy to grow and delicious to eat either fresh or cooked. Cabbage is an excellent source of vitamin C, it is useful in dishes from many ethnic traditions.Give Cabbage the right sort of attention to insure that it grows correctly and you will be rewarded as one of the best parts of your Garden. Cabbage is a cool-season vegetable suited to both spring and fall. The trick to growing cabbage is steady, uninterrupted growth. That means rich soil, plenty of water, and good fertilization. Set out new spring plants early enough so that they can mature before the heat of summer, about 4 weeks before the last frost. Plant 2 or 3 varieties with different maturities for a longer harvest. You can also plant through black plastic to help warm the soil in spring. Plant fall cabbage 6 to 8 weeks before the first frost. Growing plants that have been exposed to cool weather become “hardened” and are tolerant of frost. Cabbage that matures in cool weather is deliciously sweet. Cabbage is easy to transplant. Set plants so that 1-2″ of the main stem is buried. Cabbage demands even moisture to produce good heads. Mulch with compost, finely ground leaves, or finely ground bark to keep the soil cool and moist and to keep down weeds. Water regularly, applying 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week if it doesn’t rain. You can measure the amount of water with a rain gauge left in the garden.