Brassica oleracea Capitata Group — A leafy brassica grown for its dense head, available as spring, summer or winter types that together give a near year-round UK harvest.
Quick facts
- Scientific name: Brassica oleracea Capitata Group
- Lifecycle: biennial (requires two growing seasons, but treated as an annual)
- Growth habit: RHS: forms heads that vary by type from pointed to rounded, loose to tight and dense; colours range through shades of green to steely blue, deep purple or red-tinged.
- Edible parts: heads (leaves)
Growing conditions
- Soil pH: 6–7.5
- Optimal temperature: 15–24°C
- Sunlight: 6–10 hours
- Drainage / site: RHS: free-draining; avoid waterlogged ground.
- Watering: RHS: young plants need regular watering; established plants need water during dry spells, a thorough soaking every 10 days, and extra watering increases head size.
- Soil: RHS: fertile, free-draining soil; raise the pH above 6 to deter club root.
Harvesting & storage
- Days to harvest: 60–180
- When to harvest: Both sources use head firmness rather than a date. RHS: harvest when there is a firm head the size you want. Univ. of Maryland: when heads become firm; size varies with variety, fertility and spacing.
- Storage: RHS: keeps at least a week in the fridge, and winter varieties can be stored for several months in a cool, dry, frost-free place. Univ. of Maryland: at 32°F with 95% humidity cabbage keeps up to 5 months.
Common diseases
- Club root — RHS: affects vegetable brassicas such as Brussels sprouts, cabbages, cauliflowers, turnips, swedes and radishes.
- Downy mildew (general) — RHS names brassicas among the plants affected by downy mildews; the RHS cabbage guide also lists downy mildew among cabbage diseases.
Common pests
- Aphids (mealy cabbage aphid) (Aphididae (various spp.)) — RHS cabbage guide lists mealy cabbage aphid among cabbage pests.
- Slugs (Gastropoda (slugs, various spp.)) — RHS cabbage guide lists slugs among cabbage pests.
- Snails (Gastropoda (snails, various spp.)) — RHS cabbage guide lists snails among cabbage pests.
- Cabbage root fly (Delia radicum) — RHS: affects cabbages, cauliflower, Brussels sprout, other brassicas, swede, turnip, radish.
- Cabbage caterpillars (Pieris brassicae; Pieris rapae; Plutella xylostella) — RHS: affects all edible brassicas, including cabbage, broccoli and sprouts.
Gallery
Image credits
Images sourced via Openverse under Creative Commons / public-domain licences. Credit to each creator below.
- Cabbage: “97th Street GreenMarket by smith_cl9, BY-SA 2.0” — CC BY-SA, source
- Cabbage: “97th Street GreenMarket by smith_cl9, BY-SA 2.0” — CC BY-SA, source
- Cabbage root fly: “Delia radicum, North Wales by janetgraham84, BY 2.0” — CC BY, source
- Cabbage caterpillar (Pieris brassicae): “Pieris brassicae by Didier Descouens, BY-SA 4.0” — CC BY-SA, source
Facts compiled by the SoilCommander Garden Doctor knowledge base from RHS and university-extension sources.