Cabbages are easy to grow, and they create a dense, leafy, often colorful display, especially if you grow a few different varieties in your garden. They come in three general types: green with smooth leaves, green with crinkled leaves (savoyed) and red or purple. Red and purple cabbages usually have smooth leaves. All three kinds have the same general growing requirements.

Cabbage is a very nutritious vegetable; high in calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamin B6, and vitamin E.

It also provides plenty of fiber, and is naturally filling. The purple varieties have higher levels of cancer-fighting anthocyanins and add a nice dash of color to your garden as well as your plate.

Where to Grow Cabbage

Cabbage grows best in full sun. It grows best in cool growing conditions and benefits from mulch to retain moisture during hot, dry weather and keep weeds at bay. The soil should be fertile, moist and well drained, preferably amended with compost or composted manure before planting.

Cabbage grows perfectly in raised beds, traditional garden beds, or mixed into a an ornamental border. They can be grown in containers if you don't have any other option, but be sure that the container is at least twelve inches deep and eighteen to twenty-four inches across. A half-barrel planter or washtub works well; just make sure that there are drainage holes in whichever container you use.

Planting Cabbage

Start cabbage seeds indoors four to six weeks before you plan to transplant the seedlings outdoors.

You can also direct sow in the garden around your last spring frost date as long as the soil has warmed up a bit. Early varieties can be planted a foot apart, while late varieties should be planted around eighteen inches apart to allow them plenty of room to grow.

Tips for Growing Organic Cabbage

Cabbage is actually fairly easy to grow. Keep the soil moist, but not soggy. Cabbage benefits from a monthly feeding of sea kelp or fish emulsion, though this isn't really necessary for good growth as long as the soil is fertile. Keep the area free of weeds, and mulch to help retain soil moisture. If you're growing in full sun and fertile soil, the main issue you'll have in growing cabbage is keeping it free of pests.

Cabbage Pests and Diseases

The primary pest of cabbages is the cabbage worm. Cabbage worms are the larval phase of the Cabbage White butterfly, which is a pest to all members of the cabbage family, including cabbage, broccoli, brussels sprouts, and kale. You can protect your plants by growing under a floating row cover or by enclosing each head in a large nylon or tulle bag to keep the butterflies from laying their eggs on the plant. If you see any of the green worms on your plants, handpick and destroy them. Large infestations can be fought back with an application of Bt, but it's generally easier to just grow the plants under a floating row cover than to fight off an infestation later. Cutworms and aphids can also occasionally be troublesome, as can powdery mildew.

Recommended Cabbage Varieties

Listed below are several popular cabbage varieties. Check your seed packet to find out if yours is a short or long season variety by looking at the days to harvest. It's a good idea to grow some of both so you'll have cabbage throughout the season, especially if your family enjoys coleslaw or sauerkraut.

Green, Smooth-Leaved Varieties:

• ‘January King’
• ‘Bartolo’
• ‘Early Jersey Wakefield’
• ‘Blue Vantage’
• ‘Danish Ballhead’
• ‘Show-off’

Savoy Varieties

• ‘Savoy Blue’
• ‘Savoy King’
• ‘Taler’
• ‘Wirosa’

Red or Purple Varieties

• ‘Buscaro’
• ‘Red Acre Early’
• ‘Red Drumhead’
• ‘Red Express’
• ‘Ruby Dynasty’