Growing Cabbage

Brassica sp. : Brassicaceae / the mustard or cabbage family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
  S S         S S      
      T T         T T  

(Best months for growing Cabbage in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • Easy to grow. Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4 weeks. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 5°C and 18°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 50 - 75 cm apart
  • Harvest in 11-15 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Dwarf (bush) beans, beets, celery, cucumber, onions, marigold, nasturtium, rhubarb, aromatic herbs (sage, dill, chamomile, thyme)
  • Avoid growing close to: Climbing (pole) beans, tomato, peppers (chili, capsicum), eggplant (aubergine), strawberry, mustard, parsnip

Your comments and tips

29 Oct 08, Nat (Australia - temperate climate)
I planted my cabbages a few months back and now the heads have come large enough to harvest. However when i cut them open i find that actual cabbage leaves are few and it actually looks like that flowers have began developing within the head. I cut a younger head and it wasn't that dense. Have i done something wrong or am i just cutting at the wrong time?
20 Dec 08, slatter (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
igrew the cabbages but they took long to form the head could it be too much Nitrogen that allows leafy growth?.
24 Jan 09, Harsha (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Is chinese brocalee fallen to cabage familly? when to saw ?
07 Mar 09, Tricia (Australia - temperate climate)
Kaye, I also remember eating what was called 'greens', I asked my Mother and she said they were the outer leaves of cauliflower and cabbage and were also sold as loose leaves in bunches we had them a lot because they were cheap, this was in England though so it might be called something different here, I can remember them being a strong flavour, I havnt had them for years, Im growing cauliflowers and cabbages so I might give them a try and see if its what I remember. Mum said to strip the stem from the leaves and boil them in salted water until soft, drain and using a knife cut vigourously into the leaves while still in the pot. Good luck
15 Mar 09, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Tamera, Brassicas are things like cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower. Green vegetables which are good for us.
19 Apr 09, Dawn (Australia - temperate climate)
I just planted my first ever vege patch with cabbage, colli and broccoli. As I pondered over the "lovely white butterflies" in my garden I had NO IDEA they were cabbage moths! I have since used large pieces of broken egg shell around the plants as they think they are other moths and my plants are now coming back from the sticks they were turned into by the catapillars.
19 Apr 09, Dette (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
To Sandra. You can prevent white cabbage fly and others by planting Thyme and other herbs amongst your cabbages. The bugs hate it and the cabbages love it.
04 May 09, Dawn (Australia - temperate climate)
I was so excited to use the egg shells and get rid of the green catapillar. Now, welcome the grey aphid! After much research I have found that native Aust. ladybirds and lacewings do the trick. After even MORE research I've found where to buy them: (I cannot post a web link) bugs for bugs (dot com, dot au)
30 May 09, Louisa (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
i have planted chinese cabbage from seedlings. it seems that one by one they are dying off. i think there is a pest, a webby sort of stuff over the dying plants. if i rip out the effected plant the pest seems to move on to the next one. i haven't seen any actual organism, so unsure what it is. any ideas? i am just leaving the affected cabbages there now, as it doesn't seem to spread to the others if i do this.
31 May 09, David (Australia - temperate climate)
Dawn: It is Slug / Snail hatching time (at least in Sydney). Have you tried looking at about 8pm? Millions of the little critters here munching happily through EVERYTHING I have planted.
Showing 11 - 20 of 223 comments

My radishes and cabbage have small holes in the leaves. No caterpillars, eggs or butterflies as it is quite cold now. I’ve also checked the leaves. What do you think is causing this? Thanks, Ann

- Ann McKenzie

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. GardenGrow is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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