• About
  • Archive
  • Contact
The Greening of Gavin
  • Home
  • Our Green Shop
    • Little Green Workshops
  • Green Workshops
    • Cheese Making
    • Soap Making
    • Soy Candle Making
  • eBooks
    • Clay Oven eBook
    • Keep Calm and Make Cheese eBook
  • Podcast
    • TGOG Podcast
    • TGoG Podcast Archive
    • Little Green Cheese
  • Vlog
  • Cheese
  • Green Living
    • Chickens
    • Gardening
    • Soap Making
    • Recipes
    • Climate Change
    • Peak Oil
    • Solar Power
  • Resources

How To Grow Cabbages

October 15, 2014 @ 17:14 By Gavin Webber 7 Comments

Cabbages are a staple around here in spring.  In our climate this vegetable grows over winter and is ready to harvest in mid spring, however you can grow cabbages all year round in warm or hot regions.

So let me step you through how to grow cabbages.  The basic process is the same in most climates although planting time may vary.  Check local references for planting time in your area/climate.

Preparing The Soil

Firstly, the soil.  Add lots of well-rotted manure and home-made compost to the soil as cabbages are very heavy feeders.  Dig it in well.

Well composted soil

I added chicken and cow manure to my soil.  It looked amazing, very friable for good root and plant development.

Planting Seedlings

It is best to plant seedlings that you have grown from seed.  Once the seedlings grow their first true leaves then they are ready to plant.  If you don’t have any luck at growing your own from seed, it is perfectly fine to purchase some from your local nursery.  They still work out quite cheap as you usually get eight seedlings in a tray.

Plant each seedling at least 30 cm (1 foot) apart as they do grow large.  They don’t like crowding during the latter stages of growth.

Cabbage seedlings

Keep the soil moist as the seedlings grow and mulch well.

Pests and Feeding

The biggest issue you will probably have is trying to keep the pests off your cabbages.  The pests that like to munch on your cabbages are white cabbage moth caterpillars in the early stage and snails and slugs as the head begins to swell.  If you have some fine netting like old net curtains, then drape these over the garden bed to exclude the cabbage moths from landing on your seedlings.

I use a simple to make chilli, onion, and garlic spray to keep these pests at bay.  If that doesn’t work, then pick them off by hand.

Another way is to disguise your cabbages, by interplanting them with another vegetable.  In the past I have chosen potatoes that grow and then die off leaving the large head nearly ready to harvest.  I  have found that companion planting works well, and keeps the moths at bay.

Companion planting

As the heads begin to form, make sure you regularly water with a bit of liquid fertiliser.  This gives the cabbages a big boost when it needs it the most.

Harvesting Your Cabbages

You can tell that they are ready to harvest when you squeeze the head and it feels firm and hard.  It should be at least 20 cm (7.8 inches) across to get a good feed out of them.  If you want them a bit larger just remember to keep watering and fertilising each week, keeping the soil moist.

If the soil dries out, the cabbage will start to bolt to seed as a survival mechanism.  This will also happen if you leave them in the ground too long.  A good tip is to check the shape of your cabbage because if it starts to change from round to oval shape, it is beginning to bolt.  Pick it quick.

How to Grow Cabbages

So here are some fine-looking specimens of red cabbage that I have grown this season.  The red cabbages take about two to three weeks longer to form heads in our climate than do the white or savoy cabbages.  Not sure why, but this always seems to be the way it is each season.

Harvest all types of cabbages by pulling the plant out roots and all, then strip off the outer leaves until you have a firm, unblemished cabbage head like the white cabbages below. Don’t waste the discarded leaves.  If you have chickens then they will turn them into eggs quick smart, or throw them on the worm farm or in the compost bin.

How to grow Cabbages

Well Worth The Wait

These white cabbages are delicious in any dish you decide to cook them in.   One of my favourite recipes is Cabbage and Bacon.  It makes a great meal for the family if spooned over a pile of mashed potato.

So there you have it.  How to grow cabbages in your very own garden.  Definitely worth the effort and the only issue I have is keeping those moths at bay!

Do you grow your own cabbages?  Do you have any tips that I may have missed?  If so, add a comment below; sharing is caring!

LIKE WHAT YOU'VE READ OR HEARD?
If so, please join thousands of others who receive exclusive weekly online recaps & tips, and get a FREE COPY of my eBook, The Greening of Gavin - My First Year of Living Sustainably.

Will this article help someone you know? If so help them out by sharing now!

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: Gardening, How To, vegetables Tagged With: Cabbages

← Cheese Podcast 034 – Coagulation TGoG Podcast 086 – Gardening Therapy →

About Gavin Webber

Gavin Webber's daily goal is to live a more sustainable lifestyle, in an effort to reduce his family's environmental footprint so we can all make a difference for our children & future generations to come.

Learn more about him here and connect with him on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+.

Comments

  1. rabidlittlehippy says

    October 16, 2014 at 06:02

    I don’t think you have missed a thing Gav. 🙂 I grew my own cabbages this year and I know I definitely should have added more rotted manure as mine were on the small side. I missed a few that started to bolt but the kids ate the flowers off them and the chooks and goats the rest. I turned all of ours into sauerkraut which is full of probiotics and all sorts of goodness and it keeps well too. I did have to be a little careful of making sure the slugs, snails and the odd millipede were ejected from their home before I diced them up though.

    Reply
    • Gavin Webber says

      October 16, 2014 at 08:41

      Same thing happened to me when I first started growing cabbages Jessie. They are so hungry, that you can’t add enough manure to the garden. Those fortnightly top ups with liquid fertiliser works wonders.

      Mine also had a gamut of slugs, snails and earwigs, but the chooks loved all the extra protein. x

      Reply
  2. foodnstuff says

    October 16, 2014 at 11:08

    When do you sow your seeds? I never seem to get the timing right and they always run to seed before forming a head.

    Reply
    • Gavin Webber says

      October 16, 2014 at 19:25

      Hi Bev, I planted the seedlings on the 6th of April 2014 and harvest in late September to late October. That is about 6.5 months for a big cabbage.

      Reply
  3. aimee says

    October 19, 2014 at 09:10

    I just harvested the last of my red cabbages today (I’m in the northern hemisphere) and was disappointed. They became quite tough and leathery, with lots of outer leaves and only small heads inside. Not sure if I did anything wrong or perhaps left them in the ground too long.

    Reply
  4. kmfinigan says

    October 20, 2014 at 16:46

    Gavin I think we have spoken about this before – but Ive had some great success with keeping the dreaded white cabbage moth off my broccoli by companion planting with Coriander – its easier than netting for sure! http://bit.ly/1lRYMoo

    Reply
    • Gavin Webber says

      October 22, 2014 at 13:16

      Great tip. Thanks Kathy

      Reply

Comments build lively communities. Let me know your thoughts, but keep it clean and green! Spam is removed instantly. Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Search This Blog

Follow my work

About Gavin Webber

About Gavin Webber

An Ordinary Australian Man Who Has A Green Epiphany Whilst Watching A Documentary, Gets a Hybrid Car, Plants A Large Organic Vegetable Garden, Goes Totally Solar, Lowers Consumption, Feeds Composts Bins and Worms, Harvests Rainwater, Raises Chickens, Makes Cheese and Soap, and Eats Locally. All In The Effort To Reduce Our Family's Carbon Footprint So We Can Start Making A Difference For Our Children & Future Generations To Come.

Delve Into the Archives

Visit Our Online Simple Living Shop

Little Green Workshops

Latest Podcast Episode

Subscribe on iTunes

Top Posts & Pages

Strawbridge Family Inspiration
The Seven Stages Of Change
How To Remove Scaly Leg Mites
Growing Queensland Blue Pumpkins (Winter Squash)
Building a Wicking Bed on Concrete
Repeat After Me. I Will Never Plant Potatoes With Pumpkins Again
Black Aphids On Garlic
Planting Australian Purple Garlic
Broad Bean Rust
Selling Your Own Soap in Australia

Recent Awards

Recent Awards

Local Green Hero

Categories

Favourite Daily Reads

Debt Free, Cashed Up, and Laughing

The Off-Grid Solar House

Greener Me

The Rogue Ginger

Little Eco Footprints

Down To Earth

Surviving the Suburbs

Little Green Cheese

Eight Acres

The Witches Kitchen

TGOG Readers On-line

Podcast Reviews

  • Always inspiring and entertaining!
    August 4, 2016 by floriographer from Australia

    I've crowed about Gavin's podcast before but I just have to recommend it once again - I love that he shares his learning as well as his successes - it helps the rest of us try try try again! Thanks Gavin!

  • ms
    July 22, 2016 by Ketaea12 from New Zealand

    I really enjoy listening to Gavin, he has a kind lovely voice. He covers some great relevant topics for the everyday greenie. With lots of tips or how to or what not to do. Thanks Gavin, love it!!

  • Well worth your time to tune in
    October 23, 2015 by A Vision Splendid from Australia

    I can highly recommend Gavin’s podcast ! I have followed Gavin’s blog since the very beginning and have loved to see his journey unfold. Gavin has a lovely speaking voice so this podcast is always very easy to listen to. Gavin has a very authentic approach to his green living lifestyle. He shares the ups and downs but always provides motivation and practical steps that we can all implement.

  • very good
    June 28, 2015 by Scared pax from United Kingdom

    This is a great podcast if you want to improve your life in so many aspects and become a more sustainable person. I love the soothing voice, the good pace, and it contains lots of useful information. Recommended!

  • opened my eyes
    May 25, 2015 by Gorn4lyfe from Australia

    A wonderful show!

  • Inspiring
    April 30, 2015 by Alan Whelan from Ireland

    This is a great podcast if you're looking for practical info on saving money by living more sustainably from someone who's made that journey over the last few years. Told in a nice, easy conversational style

  • Green Living, inspiring and practical
    January 8, 2015 by EliseMac from Australia

    Thanks Gav for sharing what has (and hasn't) worked along your journey for living a greener lifestyle. Inspiring and achievable for anyone, I look forward to this podcast weekly.

  • Local food equals less waste
    December 27, 2014 by allotmentadventureswithjean from Australia

    Another brilliant podcast from Gavin Webber encouraging us, and showing us how, to cut down on food miles, growing our own food, and cutting down on food waste. Gavin is a really interesting speaker, showing us how to eat better, growing our own food and how to live more sustainably.

  • Honestly australian
    December 15, 2014 by HodgepodgeOz from Australia

    Fantastic podcast, with a wide variety of well thought and researched topics. Gavin is a honest, forthright pod aster with a genuine interest in helping others get green. Like a day alongside is a day wasted, so too is a week without listening to Gavin. Highly recommended for people starting out, or those in the midst of their new lifestyle. Keep it up Gavin, wish there were more great reviews! Kimberley

  • Morning motivation
    December 8, 2014 by Bunnyworm from Australia

    Gavin has a great passion for living this greener lifestyle that motivates others to do the same. The podcasts are always interesting and informative. :)

  • Passionate Advocate
    October 18, 2014 by BoomOpGirl from Australia

    Gavin's enthusiasm and passion for creating a more sustainable world is nothing short of contagious. Thanks Gav, you are my weekly source of motivation for living a sustainable life! :)

  • Gavin speaks from the heart
    October 13, 2014 by Green gavin from Australia

    Gavin's podcasts are required listening for anyone planning to live a more sustainable life. He doesn't preach, but tells you his story from the heart. You'll laugh, smile, share in his concerns and along the way you'll pick up some great tips on living a simple life.

  • Green thoughts, so well iterated
    October 9, 2014 by Kwasikwami from Australia

    This is a wonderful podcast. Not only does Gavin talk knowledgeably on a range of sustainability topics from gardening tips all the way to the issues facing humanity as a whole, but he does so in such a wonderful voice, it's like listening to my Dad, love it!!

  • Easy listening inspiration on being green
    September 24, 2014 by Broomedy from Australia

    Gav knows how to share his journey to a more sustainable life in a manner that shows just how easy it really is. Not to mention healthier, economically beneficial and generally rewarding. The podcasts are an easy way to absorb Gav's great lifestyle. I recommend to anyone.

  • Thanks Gavin!
    August 31, 2014 by Honeywoodmilk from Australia

    Great practical advice for a greener lifestyle. This podcast is for anybody interested in growing their own food in suburbia, saving electricity, brewing beer, making cheese, all that wonderful business and most of all, saving money! Thanks Gavin, love the podcast mate!

  • Enjoyed those ideas for staying warm
    August 15, 2014 by enduringdragon from United States

    Like you we are having winter here in Chile—brrr! Every bit we can save on heating we will.

  • Green Podcasts
    July 26, 2014 by Carneu from Australia

    Excellent podcasts, which are full of information to help get started on a sustainable lifestyle.

  • Practical ideas and inspiration
    July 19, 2014 by HeathrowHeath from Australia

    I highly recommend Gavin's podcast and blog. Down to earth, entertaining and inspirational. Thank you.

  • Interesting & easy to listen to
    April 27, 2014 by Velocity3 from New Zealand

    Gavin & his guests make this green journey lots of fun.

  • Great green listen
    April 18, 2014 by Obscurenickname from Australia

    Gavin is a great down to earth, tell it like it is aussie with a passion for sustainability and growing food and making cheese

Carbon Offset website

Copyright - Gavin Webber © 2023