No matter how different the different types of cabbage may look, there are similarities when growing cabbage. A bountiful cabbage harvest does not fall from the sky. The spicy vegetable, rich in vitamins and fiber, needs to be well cared for.
How do I plant cabbage correctly?
To plant cabbage successfully, choose a warm, deep and nutrient-rich location. Loosen the soil and ensure a pH value of 5.5 to 6.8. Fertilize with nettle manure every 3-4 weeks and water regularly.
Location and soil conditions
The cabbage family is a demanding company that thrives when given a warm, deep and nutrient-rich location in your garden. Whether red cabbage, white cabbage, kohlrabi, broccoli, cauliflower or savoy cabbage - their demands will keep you busy until the harvest.
Good neighborly relations
Friendly neighbors contribute to the quality of life not only for people. The same applies to plants too. Cabbage plants thrive in the immediate vicinity of
- Potatoes and dill
- Beans and peas
- Carrots, tomatoes and marigolds
- Chard, rhubarb and salads
- Spinach, cucumber and leek
The immediate proximity of garlic, chives and onions, however, has a rather counterproductive effect on cabbage growth.
Soil texture
All types of cabbage are extremely hungry for nutrients and moisture - especially during the growing phase. The soil must be well loosened before planting. A pH value of the soil between 5.5 and 6.8 is optimal (if necessary, balance with mature compost or lime).
Nutrient additions and abundant, regular watering are essential - especially if the soil is very light - during the main growth phase. But be careful when fertilizing: too much fertilizer affects its durability. Fertilization with nettle manure every 3-4 weeks is optimal.
The king of the cabbage family is cauliflower. In order to grow cauliflower successfully, the soil conditions and location must be right. Gardening newbies should first try kale to “warm up” when it comes to cabbage cultivation. Kale grows almost everywhere.
Crop rotation: Never cabbage on cabbage
If you want to grow cabbage again next year, you should choose a different location. Heavy soils need at least a year's break - with light soils the soil even needs 2 - 3 years until it is suitable for a lush cabbage harvest again.
Growing and sowing outdoors
Depending on the type and variety, cabbage can be sown directly outdoors or grown in cultivation containers and later placed in the bed. Early, medium and late varieties of cabbage are available commercially. You can cultivate the early varieties again immediately after the first harvest. If you grow cabbage varieties with different cultivation times, you will always have fresh cabbage vegetables from your own garden available over a long period of the year.
Tips & Tricks
Cabbage vegetables are demanding. If you don't yet have any information about the soil conditions in your garden, a soil analysis makes sense.