#Cabbage seedlings how to#
#Cabbage seedlings full#

Cabbage is also a great beginning gardener plant because it is very easy to grow and tolerates lower temperatures. Growing cabbage is a great addition to a garden and since it is a cool-weather vegetable, it’s a good one to grow in either Spring or Fall and you can get two harvests a year.

#Cabbage seedlings how to#

I like to follow behind with snap peas and green beans, as the ground will be sufficiently warmed by the time the cabbage heads are harvested.Whether you started your seeds indoors or bought seedlings from a garden center, you can use these directions for how to transplant cabbage seedlings.

The early start outdoors will help minimize insects and allow cabbage heads to develop for harvest in time for a second planting.

When the cabbage plants are settled into their new places, water and weed as needed. Putting in the extra work at the time of transplant is well worth the effort a few months later when I am not breaking my back pulling weeds from the cabbage bed. The plants are then set into the holes and covered with soil, which holds the paper in place. After I have dug all of the holes, I lay the weed barrier paper over the bed, then X out spaces to match. Biodegradable paper weed barrier has worked well for me in my cabbage beds. Larger varieties such as Brunswick and Aubervilliers need more space to thrive and produce significant heads, so allow 16-18” or more in the garden per plant.Ī layer of mulch applied after transplant to help retain water and keep weeds at bay. I like to use smaller, conical shaped cabbage head varieties like Kolibos and Early Jersey Wakefield, which require about a square foot per plant.

Gently nestle the roots into the hole and pack in enough soil to support the plant from the base, leaving the stem and leaves exposed.ĭepending on the variety, cabbage plants need 12-18” spacing in the garden. Dig a space large enough to accommodate the starter soil and plant roots. I am mindful to cover the cabbage bed with a sheet or tarp should a late hard frost arise.Īfter the cabbage plants have been property hardened off and the soil has been prepared, they are ready to make their final transition to the garden. The early start also allows for an earlier harvest in the coming weeks. This means that I am starting to harden off cabbage seedlings mid to late March for my zone 7a garden. I aim to transplant cabbage plants a couple of weeks before the last threat of frost, to take advantage of the colder temperatures and hopefully have less hassle from cabbage devouring pests. I use an outdoor shelf with a cover, enclosing three sides at first then gradually exposing more as the plants become accustomed to the elements. Choose a location where the plants can be easily moved and protected from high winds and harsh sun. Once the cabbage plants have been exposed to direct sunlight, wind, and outdoor conditions, they will be more resilient to a light frost, and acclimate to their new habitat. This process is called hardening off, and can begin for hardy vegetable plants like cabbages when daytime temperatures and consistently above 40 degrees F. Set delicate cabbage seedling trays outside gradually for a couple of hours, then longer each day until they are accustomed to be being outside.

#Cabbage seedlings full#

Cabbages needs full sun and moist soil for proper growth and development, so select a spot with plenty of sunlight exposure. In the fall I shred leaves and turn them into the soil of the cabbage bed so that the material is well rotted and ready for incoming spring plants.

Decayed leaves work well when they are incorporated several inches into the soil. Prepare the soil with rich compost a couple of weeks before transplanting. They differ from sprouting leaves, which appear just after the seed has germinated. Once the plants have developed two to three true leaves, they are ready for transplant. True leaves, although small at first from underdevelopment, resemble the plant’s mature leaf in shape and color. Cabbage plants are one of the first vegetables to be set out in the garden after weeks under indoor grow lights, usually in early spring. Knowing when and how to transplant the tender seedlings is essential to successful growth and production of abundant cabbage heads. The effort expended to start each plant from seed, careful watering and adjusting under grow lights to give them the best start in life, could all be lost without proper planning and care when it comes to setting them out for permanent placement in the vegetable garden. Cabbage seedlings, those precious little plants that have been nurtured so tenderly throughout the winter months, will eventually need a final place to call home.