Cabbage (Brassica oleracea Capitata Group)
2 sources cited · Verified
The short answer
- Sow
- Early February to late July
- Plant out
- Early May to late July
- Ready in
- 60–180 days
- Site
- 6+ hours of sun, soil pH 6–7.5
- Biggest risk
- Club root
In the UK, cabbage are sown early February to late July, planted out early May to late July, and are ready to harvest 60–180 days after sowing.
Cabbage (Brassica oleracea Capitata Group) — biennial (requires two growing seasons, but treated as an annual).
Core growing advice on this page is checked against named horticultural and university-extension sources — see References.
At a Glance
Quick Facts
| Factor | Value |
|---|---|
| Soil pH | 6 - 7.5 |
| Sunlight | 6-10 hours direct sun |
| Germination temp | 12.8C |
| Optimal growing temp | 15-24C |
| Minimum survivable temp | -10C |
| Time to harvest | 60-180 days |
| Soil texture | RHS: "fertile, free-draining soil". RHS advises raising the pH above 6 specifically to deter club root; neither source states an upper bound, so 7.5 is used as the general brassica-safe ceiling consistent with related crops in this dataset. |
| Drainage | RHS: free-draining; avoid "waterlogged" ground. |
| Lifecycle | biennial (requires two growing seasons, but treated as an annual) |
| Edible parts | heads (leaves) |
Regional Planting Calendar
| Region | Sow | Plant out |
|---|---|---|
| Southern England | early February to late July | early May to late July |
| Midlands | early February to late July | early May to late July |
| Northern England | early February to late July | early May to late July |
| Scotland | early February to late July | early May to late July |
Southern England - detail & sources
RHS: sowing time depends on type -- summer cabbage sown February-April (harvest mid/late summer), winter cabbage sown April-June (harvest autumn/winter), spring cabbage sown in July for overwintering (harvest mid-spring to mid-summer the following year). No regional timing differences are given by RHS for this crop; the range above spans the earliest (summer, Feb) to latest (spring, July) sowing across all three types.
Midlands - detail & sources
RHS: sowing time depends on type -- summer cabbage sown February-April (harvest mid/late summer), winter cabbage sown April-June (harvest autumn/winter), spring cabbage sown in July for overwintering (harvest mid-spring to mid-summer the following year). No regional timing differences are given by RHS for this crop; the range above spans the earliest (summer, Feb) to latest (spring, July) sowing across all three types.
Northern England - detail & sources
RHS: sowing time depends on type -- summer cabbage sown February-April (harvest mid/late summer), winter cabbage sown April-June (harvest autumn/winter), spring cabbage sown in July for overwintering (harvest mid-spring to mid-summer the following year). No regional timing differences are given by RHS for this crop; the range above spans the earliest (summer, Feb) to latest (spring, July) sowing across all three types.
Scotland - detail & sources
RHS: sowing time depends on type -- summer cabbage sown February-April (harvest mid/late summer), winter cabbage sown April-June (harvest autumn/winter), spring cabbage sown in July for overwintering (harvest mid-spring to mid-summer the following year). No regional timing differences are given by RHS for this crop; the range above spans the earliest (summer, Feb) to latest (spring, July) sowing across all three types.
Soil & Growing Conditions
Harvest & Storage
Diseases
Pests
Nutrient Issues
Watch: Growing Cabbage at Home
A quick SoilCommander video on growing cabbage at home in UK conditions — sowing, spacing, care and harvest in under a minute.
Recommended Varieties
- Wheelers Imperial — a classic spring cabbage producing compact, pointed heads; reliable and widely available.
- Hispi F1 — a pointed summer cabbage with sweet, tender leaves; fast-maturing and one of the most popular UK varieties.
- January King — a frost-hardy drumhead with red-tinged outer leaves and flavour that improves after frost; harvest December-February.
- Red Jewel F1 — deep red, round heads with good colour retention and disease resistance; harvest August-October.
A shallow X-cut in the stump after cutting a spring or summer head often encourages a second flush of small secondary heads.
Cabbage Through the Season
References
-
Tier 1. Primary source for growing conditions, sowing timing by type, spacing, harvest indicators, and named pests/diseases.
-
Tier 1. Storage and watering corroboration.
2 independent sources are cited for this crop. Where they disagree - soil pH is the clearest case - every figure is preserved rather than averaged into false precision.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I plant cabbage out in the UK?
In southern England, from early May. In northern England and Scotland, wait until early May. Treat these as a guide rather than a fixed date — the governing rule is to plant out only once frost risk has passed and temperatures are reliably warm enough.
When do I sow cabbage?
Sow early February to late July, at around 12.8°C for germination.
How long do cabbage take to grow?
Typically 60–180 days, depending on cultivar and growing conditions.
What soil pH do cabbage need?
A pH of about 6–7.5. That span reflects genuine variation between the authorities we cite rather than a single agreed figure — the References section lists each source's exact range.
What problems affect cabbage?
Our data links 2 diseases and 5 pests to this crop. See the sections above for each one and how to manage it.
Plan next season before the problems start
Most of the advice on this page comes down to timing and spacing — sowing at the right moment, rotating beds, and giving plants enough airflow. The UK Garden Planner lays your plot out month by month so those decisions are already made before the season starts.
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Last verified 2026-07-30
Tools That Help With This Crop
Use these links when the guide moves from reading into sowing, planting, watering, and keeping the crop healthy.
Plan the next step
Use the printable UK Vegetable Garden Planner to turn this guide into sowing dates, bed layouts, and weekly garden tasks.