Cabbage can be grown and eaten all year round, but the taste is improved through those cooler months and is best served in dishes like these pork and cabbage dumplings.
Watch: Lamb and cabbage Irish stew
Kevin Parker is a senior horticulturist at The Greenery Garden and Home. He says cabbages are easy to grow with the right conditions.
“They tend to grow quickly through the autumn and slow down as the weather gets colder, but the taste is improved through those cooler months,” he says.
Growing cabbage
Cabbage varieties
If you want to grow cabbage, you’re in luck because there are a few varieties. Here are the most popular cabbage varieties to grow in Australia. Before settling on a cabbage variety, it’s a good idea to understand your climate and its suitability for the cabbages you want to grow.
Golden acre: A classic green cabbage variety with compact heads and excellent flavour. It is known for its reliability and ability to withstand heat.
Savoy: This variety has crinkled and curly leaves, giving it a distinctive appearance. Savoy cabbage works well in salads, stir-fries, and soups.
Red express: A beautiful red/purple cabbage with a sweet and mild flavour. It adds vibrant colour to salads and coleslaws.
Drumhead: A large, round-headed cabbage perfect for making sauerkraut or coleslaw. It has a mild flavour and is a reliable choice for home gardeners.
Sugarloaf: This cone-shaped cabbage has a sweet and tender flavour. It is ideal for smaller gardens due to its compact size.
Chinese cabbage: A popular variety in Asian cuisine, Chinese cabbage has long, cylindrical heads and a mild, slightly sweet taste. It is excellent for stir-frying, pickling, and using in soups.
Brussels sprouts: While not a traditional cabbage, Brussels sprouts are a member of the cabbage family. They produce small, compact heads that grow along the stalk. Brussels sprouts are known for their distinctive taste and are delicious when roasted or sautéed.
How to grow cabbage
The secret to growing delicious cabbages is soil preparation and cooler weather.
“There are varieties that will grow all year around, but cabbage is better grown during the cooler months of the year,” says Kevin.
“They are planted late summer or autumn, and you grow the plant through the winter. When you get a winter chill, the flavour of the cabbage improves.”
Additionally, feeding your cabbage lime can also help with flavour.
“A bit of garden lime around the plant itself, because the lime is alkaline, helps make it taste a bit sweeter,” he says.
How to prepare the soil for growing cabbage
The trick to growing any vegetable in the cruciferous family is to prepare the soil with nitrogen.
“The ground before planting needs to be well prepared with lots of animal manure high in nitrogen, like cow manure,” says Kevin.
“Even when you’ve planted them, and they are growing, and you use high nitrogen fertiliser regularly like Blood and Bone or Dynamic Lifter, they help to prompt a lot of leafy growth.”
Additionally, if your cabbages aren’t developing a core, insufficient nitrogen could be the problem.
“People have problems with the cabbage not developing the plant’s core,” says Kevin. “That’s because they need more food, particularly early in the season when the plant is still growing in the autumn.”
Can you grow cabbage from the core?
While growing pineapple from a core is possible, the same cannot be said about cabbage.
“They’ve been chopped off the root system when harvested,” says Kevin. “Once the roots have gone off it, you can’t take the core home and plant it. You can sometimes do some plants, like pineapple, but you can’t do that with cabbage.”
Can you grow cabbage in pots?
If you have little space for a garden, it is possible to grow cabbage in pots.
“You can grow them in pots,” says Kevin. “They like a reasonably open sunny position, particularly in winter when the days are darker, and we don’t have as much sun.
“So if you tend to keep them in a pot, an open, sunny position is best for them.”
The best way to protect cabbage from white butterfly
White butterfly is a notorious pest for cabbages. They fly around, laying their eggs on cabbages. When the little caterpillars hatch, they feast on the leaves.
While Kevin says you can get nets to place over your cabbages, white butterfly decoys are your best bet.
“Get decoys,” he says. “They are short wooden sticks with an imitation cabbage white butterfly.”
“If the cabbage white butterfly sees another butterfly near the plant, it won’t lay eggs on the plant because it thinks this other butterfly has done the same thing.”
Caring for cabbages
Aspect: cabbages prefer a sunny aspect with at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. However, in hotter regions, they may benefit from partial shade during the hottest part of the day to prevent heat stress.
Soil: cabbages thrive in well-drained soil with a pH level between 6.0 and 7.0.
Spacing: space cabbage plants about 45-60 cm apart in rows. This spacing allows enough room for the heads to develop fully. It also provides adequate air circulation to reduce the risk of disease.
Common pests: the white butterfly, also known as the cabbage white butterfly, is a common pest that lays eggs on cabbage leaves.
Water: water deeply and regularly to keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy.
Mulch: applying a layer of organic mulch around cabbage plants can help conserve moisture, and suppress weed growth.
Fertiliser: incorporate a balanced organic fertiliser or compost into the soil before planting. Side-dress cabbage plants with a nitrogen-rich fertiliser about 3-4 weeks after transplanting. Regularly monitor your cabbages for signs of nutrient deficiency and adjust the fertilisation accordingly.
Harvesting cabbage
Most cabbages take about 10–14 weeks before you can harvest them.
Signs your cabbage is ready for harvesting:
- It has reached the expected growth size based on the variety.
- It’s firm to the touch.
- The outer leaves may also show some colour change or loosen slightly.
How to harvest a cabbage
You will need a sharp knife or garden shears. Harvesting cabbage in the morning while the weather is cooler is best to help retain the cabbages’ crisp flavour.
- Gently remove any loose outer leaves around the head. Leave the inner leaves intact.
- Position your knife or shears just above the base of the cabbage head. Make a clean, horizontal cut across the stem.
- Repeat for each cabbage you want to harvest.
Once you’ve harvested your cabbage heads, check for damage and disease. Trim the outer leaves, leaving a few to protect the head. Store in a cool, dry spot. Try not to stack your cabbages, as they can bruise easily.
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