How to grow cabbage

Growing cabbage for the first time

Difficulty: Medium · Sun: full sun · Ready in: about 110 days

1. Choose the spot

Pick a sunny spot (6+ hours of sun). It does best in clay, loam soil with a pH of 6.5–7.5. Avoid sandy soil, or improve it with compost.

2. Sow or plant

Sow outdoors in Apr, May, Jun. Start indoors or under cover in Mar, Apr. Space plants about 45 cm apart.

3. Look after it

• Water roughly every 4 days, more in hot or dry weather. Water the soil, not the leaves.
• Feed every 21 days once it is growing strongly.
• Keep weeds down, and add a daily note and photo to your BeAgric grow diary so you can spot problems early.

4. Watch for problems

Common problems: Clubroot, Cabbage white caterpillars. Take a photo with Check a plant if leaves look spotted, yellow or wilted.

5. Organic tip

Net against butterflies and pigeons. Firm soil well — brassicas like it compacted.

6. Harvest

Expect your first harvest about 110 days after planting. Record it in Harvests and list any spare on the marketplace.