Spring cabbages should be sown in July and August. Summer and autumn varieties are usually sown from March to May. Sow winter cabbages in April and May.
Sow the seeds thinly in 1.25cm (1/2in) deep drills (shallow grooves made in the soil surface with a stick) and then lightly cover with soil and label.
The rows (individual drills) are best spaced 15cm (6in) apart and can be marked out using a length of string held taut between two pegs. Once the cabbage seedlings are large enough to handle, thin them to 7.5cm (3in) apart. This can be done by pulling the unwanted seedlings out of the ground using a finger and thumb.
Cabbages are usually sown outdoors in a seed bed (a corner of the vegetable plot used for raising young seedlings). The bed should be in a sheltered, sunny spot and the soil well-drained.
To ensure good germination, remove all weeds and lightly rake over the soil surface before sowing the seeds in the drills – always water the base and then scatter the seeds on top.
Alternatively, if you have no room outdoors, cabbage seeds can be sown in a modular seed tray filled with seed compost and left to germinate in a greenhouse at a minimum temperature of 7ºC (45ºF).
The young seedlings should be transferred (transplanted) from the seed bed to their main growing site when they are around six weeks old and 7.5cm (3in) to 10cm (4in) in height.
Spring cabbages should be transplanted from the seed bed (or modular seed tray) to their main growing site in September or October. Summer and autumn types are transplanted in May, June or July. Winter cabbages are best transplanted in June or July.
Spring cabbages should be transplanted to 30cm (1ft) apart. Summer cabbages need to be spaced 45cm (18in) apart. Autumn and winter cabbages prefer a 50cm (20in) spacing.
Planting depth: When lifting the cabbage seedlings for transplanting, use a hand trowel and try to retain as much soil around the roots as possible. Firm the ground well (this can be done by tamping down the surface with a rake) before planting the seedlings to the same depth as in the seed bed.
After transplanting, water the plants and place a ‘cabbage collar’ around the base of each one as this will help prevent a pest called the cabbage root fly from damaging the crop.
Spring cabbages can be picked in March, April and May. Summer cabbages are ready in July, August and September. Autumn cabbages mature from September to October. Winter cabbages can be harvested between November and March.
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