Brassica oleracea var. capitata

Cabbage

A practical guide to growing cabbage in the home garden.

Growing profiles

Choose how this crop will be grown. Dimensions, spacing and timing belong to the selected profile—not to the species as a single universal value.

Early cabbage

Compact, faster-maturing heading cabbage.

Biological height
30–60 cm (12–24 in) Source
Mature canopy
35–65 cm (14–26 in) Source
Plant spacing
38–50 cm (15–20 in) Source
Row spacing
60–75 cm (24–30 in) Source
Layout
single row · open ground Source
Support
Usually unnecessary
Container
At least 19 L (5 US gal) · 1 plant Source
Best germination temperature
18 °C (64 °F) Source

Climate-relative calendar

Planning estimates become local dates after the gardener supplies frost dates and current conditions. Harvest and crop-removal dates are estimates: actual crop condition takes priority.

Sow Cabbage indoors56 days before last spring frost to 42 days before last spring frost SourceSourceRequired: Soil temperature between 5 °C (41 °F) and 30 °C (86 °F). Source
Harden off Cabbage42 days before last spring frost to 35 days before last spring frost Source
Transplant Cabbage outdoors28 days before last spring frost to last spring frost SourceRequired: Soil temperature at least 0 °C (32 °F) for 3 consecutive days. SourceCheck before proceeding: Forecast frost risk no more than 25%. Source
Begin harvesting Cabbage55 days after transplanting to 75 days after transplanting Source
Finish harvesting Cabbage14 days after first harvest to 30 days after first harvest
Remove Cabbage cropthe expected end of harvest to 7 days after the expected end of harvest

Midseason cabbage

Intermediate heading cabbage between early compact and large storage types.

Biological height
40–75 cm (16–30 in) Source
Mature canopy
45–75 cm (18–30 in) Source
Plant spacing
45–65 cm (18–26 in) Source
Row spacing
60–90 cm (24–35 in) Source
Layout
single row · open ground Source
Support
Usually unnecessary
Container
At least 25 L (6.6 US gal) · 1 plant Source
Best germination temperature
18 °C (64 °F) Source

Climate-relative calendar

Planning estimates become local dates after the gardener supplies frost dates and current conditions. Harvest and crop-removal dates are estimates: actual crop condition takes priority.

Sow Cabbage indoors49 days before last spring frost to 35 days before last spring frost SourceSourceRequired: Soil temperature between 5 °C (41 °F) and 30 °C (86 °F). Source
Harden off Cabbage35 days before last spring frost to 28 days before last spring frost Source
Transplant Cabbage outdoors21 days before last spring frost to 7 days after last spring frost SourceRequired: Soil temperature at least 0 °C (32 °F) for 3 consecutive days. SourceCheck before proceeding: Forecast frost risk no more than 25%. Source
Begin harvesting Cabbage70 days after transplanting to 90 days after transplanting Source
Finish harvesting Cabbage14 days after first harvest to 30 days after first harvest
Remove Cabbage cropthe expected end of harvest to 7 days after the expected end of harvest

Storage cabbage

Large, longer-season cabbage intended for mature heads and storage.

Biological height
50–90 cm (20–35 in) Source
Mature canopy
60–90 cm (24–35 in) Source
Plant spacing
50–75 cm (20–30 in) Source
Row spacing
75–100 cm (30–39 in) Source
Layout
single row · open ground Source
Support
Usually unnecessary
Container
At least 30 L (7.9 US gal) · 1 plant Source
Best germination temperature
18 °C (64 °F) Source

Climate-relative calendar

Planning estimates become local dates after the gardener supplies frost dates and current conditions. Harvest and crop-removal dates are estimates: actual crop condition takes priority.

Sow Cabbage indoors42 days before last spring frost to 28 days before last spring frost SourceSourceRequired: Soil temperature between 5 °C (41 °F) and 30 °C (86 °F). Source
Harden off Cabbage28 days before last spring frost to 21 days before last spring frost Source
Transplant Cabbage outdoors14 days before last spring frost to 14 days after last spring frost SourceRequired: Soil temperature at least 0 °C (32 °F) for 3 consecutive days. SourceCheck before proceeding: Forecast frost risk no more than 25%. Source
Begin harvesting Cabbage90 days after transplanting to 120 days after transplanting Source
Finish harvesting Cabbage14 days after first harvest to 30 days after first harvest
Remove Cabbage cropthe expected end of harvest to 7 days after the expected end of harvest

Agronomy release agronomy-2026-07-11-r1 · reviewed 2026-07-11 by Gardeningist agronomic research synthesis. Each fact links to its supporting source.

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