How to Grow Cabbage in the UK

🥬 How to Grow Cabbage in the UK

Cabbage is a versatile, hardy vegetable that thrives in the UK climate. This complete guide covers everything you need to know about growing cabbage successfully in British gardens, from sowing to harvest.

Not sure when to sow? See our When to Plant Cabbage UK →

Quick Facts

🌱 Sow Indoors:

January – March (spring), June (winter)

🌿 Plant Out:

March – May (spring), August (winter)

🥬 Harvest:

June – October (spring), November – March (winter)

📏 Spacing:

30–45cm apart, 45cm rows

⭐ Difficulty:

Easy to Moderate

☀️ Position:

Full sun, firm soil

📅 When to Plant Cabbage in the UK

Cabbage can be grown year-round in the UK by choosing the right varieties and planting times. There are three main types: spring cabbage, summer cabbage, and winter cabbage.

Planting Timeline:

Spring Cabbage: Sow July–August, plant September, harvest March–May
Summer Cabbage: Sow January–March indoors, plant April–May, harvest July–September
Winter Cabbage: Sow April–May, plant June–July, harvest November–February

For continuous harvests, sow different varieties at different times. Start early cabbage indoors in January or March.

🌱 How to Sow Cabbage Seeds

Cabbage can be sown indoors in modules or directly outdoors in a seedbed, then transplanted to their final positions.

Indoor Sowing Method:

Fill modules with seed compost
Sow 2–3 seeds per module, 1.5cm deep
Water gently and keep at 15–20°C
Germination takes 7–12 days
Thin to one strong seedling per module
Transplant when seedlings have 5–6 true leaves

💡 Pro Tip: Cabbage seedlings are prone to damping off. Use fresh compost and avoid overwatering to prevent this fungal disease.

🏡 Soil Preparation & Planting Out

Cabbage needs firm, fertile soil with good drainage. They're heavy feeders and benefit from soil enriched with organic matter.

Soil Requirements:

Soil Type: Firm, well-drained, moisture-retentive soil
pH Level: 6.5–7.5 (neutral to slightly alkaline)
Preparation: Dig in well-rotted manure or compost in autumn
Position: Full sun, sheltered from strong winds

Transplanting Method:

Water seedlings well before transplanting
Space plants 30–45cm apart (depending on variety)
Plant firmly — cabbage needs firm soil to develop good heads
Plant up to the first true leaves
Water in well and firm soil around plants

Firm planting is crucial for cabbage — test by gently tugging a leaf. If the whole plant lifts, it's not firm enough.

💡 Growing Tips for Cabbage

💧 Watering

Keep soil consistently moist, especially during dry spells. Irregular watering can cause heads to split.

🌿 Feeding

Apply nitrogen-rich fertilizer 3–4 weeks after planting. Cabbage are heavy feeders and benefit from regular feeding.

🛡️ Protection

Use netting to protect from pigeons and cabbage white butterflies. These are the biggest threats to cabbage crops.

🌿 Companion Planting

Grow with onions, celery, or herbs. Avoid planting near strawberries or tomatoes.

⚠️ Common Problems with Cabbage

🦋 Cabbage White Butterfly

Caterpillars eat leaves. Use fine mesh netting to exclude butterflies and check plants regularly, removing eggs and caterpillars by hand.

🐛 Cabbage Root Fly

Larvae eat roots causing plants to wilt. Use cabbage collars around stems or cover with fleece immediately after planting.

🦠 Club Root

Fungal disease causing swollen, distorted roots. Improve drainage, lime acidic soil, and practice crop rotation (don't grow brassicas in the same spot for 4 years).