All About Cabbage Seeds
Planting a family garden is an adventure the whole family can enjoy, especially when you diversify your garden by adding cabbage seeds. The beautiful thing about cabbage is that it thrives during the cooler parts of the year, especially during the spring and fall. This gives you something to tend in the garden even after most of your other plants have gone dormant for the season.
Always plant cabbage seeds about ¼ to ½ inch deep. For best results, choose a spot that’s bright and sunny, although if somewhat shady areas are all you have, your cabbages will be fine there also. Plant your seeds in straight rows about 35 inches apart. To give your cabbage plants a boost, plant herbs like dill, rosemary, and thyme nearby. Many other types of vegetables also many good neighbors for cabbage plants in your garden. Use a nitrogen fertilizer for the best cabbage plants.
Cabbage seeds take anywhere from about 75 days up to 85 days to mature, depending on which variety you plant. There are three types of cabbage plants: green, red, and savoy. Green cabbages are the most common, although many people enjoy the color red cabbage adds to their salads. More and more people are also using red cabbages for cooked dishes. Savoy cabbages are used for cole slaw and various types of salad.
While you’re tending your cabbage plants, keep an eye out for pests. The most common type of pest for cabbage plants is the cabbage worm, which grows from the egg of the cabbage moth. You can prevent cabbage worms through some careful planning early in the growing season. Placing row covers over your cabbage plants allows them to get all the water and sunlight they need while preventing cabbage moths from laying their eggs inside your plants. You can also keep a sharp eye out for cabbage worms and pick them off by hand later in the growing season.
Two other common problems with cabbage crops are blackleg and black rot. These plant diseases cause the growth of cabbage plants to be stunted. The plants will also turn yellow and die. You can avoid both diseases by making sure the cabbage seeds you by have been hot-water treated.
Although cabbages can technically be harvested any time after the heads form, you’ll recognize it’s the best time to harvest your cabbages when the heads feel firm. The inside of the cabbage should also be quite dense. Cut only the cabbage head off when you’re harvesting it. If the head of the cabbage starts to split, you’ve let your crop grow for too long. Overwatering can also cause the cabbage heads to split.
If your cabbages never form heads, then there’s a good chance the weather wasn’t right for cabbages. Although they can withstand a freeze or two, cabbage plants will develop seed stalks if the temperature dips too low for too long. One option to avoid an extended time of cold temperatures is to plant them indoors in the early months and then transplant outdoors in early spring.