Cabbage Info

Cabbage:

Overview:
Part of the "cole" or mustard family. Cool weather crop, but a bit fussy, doesn't like it too cold or too hot. Good idea to rotate plants. Not too happy to be in the company of pole beans or strawberries.

Problemas:
The cabbage butterfly, aphids, slugs, and the cabbage root fly - daggone. Covering plants with a row cover after planting can be helpful (cover can be a sheer curtain, or something of that nature). It will prevent butterflies from laying eggs - butterflies are white. Can also try a brassica collar to try and prevent pest damage. Pick off any catapillars, throw them to the moon!

Planting:
Begin 6-8 weeks before last frost. Plant 3-4 weeks before last frost. Allow 10-12" spacing, so in SF that would mean 1 per square. Fall crop can be started 12 weeks before first frost.

Harvesting:
Pull up plant whole, when leaves are tightly packed.

This year I am growing the Copenhagan Market Cabbage (Brassica oleracea). The heads reach 6-8" in diameter, and weigh 3-4 lbs. Medium-sized. 63-100 days from transplant.

Sow indoors 8 weeks before last frost. Thin seedlings when two inches tall and transplant into individual pots. Plant outdoors 24" apart when a light frost is still possible.