Cabbage
Brassica oleracea Capitata Group
A vegetable, sown February to August. It needs 5 jobs a year.
In September: cover the cabbage with a cloche or fleece, earth it up and cut the crop. It can be planted out now.
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Cabbage, month by month
Bar: the usual months. Sprout: this month.
| Sowing, planting or job | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | 2027Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow under cover. | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual |
| Sow outdoors. | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | none |
| Plant out. | usual | usual | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual | none |
| Cut the cabbages. | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual |
| Net the cabbage. | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none | none | none | none |
| Cover the cabbage with a cloche or fleece. | usual | usual | usual | none | none | usual | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none |
| Sow another batch of cabbages. | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual |
| Earth up the cabbage. | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none |
What to do, and when
The usual months for a UK garden. Your own plan gives the week.
Sowing and planting
Sow under cover February to August, 1cm deep. Strong source: RHS.
Sow outdoors March to July, 2cm deep, 30 to 45cm apart, rows 30 to 45cm apart. Strong sources: RHS and Gardeners’ World.
Plant out May to July, and September to October, 30 to 45cm apart, rows 45 to 60cm apart. Strong sources: Garden Organic, RHS and Mr Fothergill’s.
Cut the cabbages
Usually all year. Strong source: RHS.
Net the cabbage
Against pigeons: stretch the netting taut so birds don’t get tangled in it.
Usually December to February. Moderate source: Gardeners’ World.
Cover the cabbage with a cloche or fleece
Shelter from wind speeds growth and gives bigger, softer leaves.
Usually February to May, and September to November. Moderate source: RHS.
Sow another batch of cabbages
Gardeners call this successional sowing.
Sow a few seeds at a time, in small batches, to spread harvests and avoid gluts.
Usually March to August. Strong source: RHS.
Earth up the cabbage
Pull soil up around the stems and firm any plants loosened by wintry weather.
Usually September to November. Moderate source: Garden Organic.
What the source words mean
Strong: the RHS page for this plant is among them.Moderate: another trusted UK source, or the RHS on its group.
Every line above names the page it comes from. Where we found no good source for a job, we left it out. Where the name “Cabbage” comes from.