Spring cabbage fills the 'hungry gap' — the weeks in early spring when almost nothing else in the garden is ready.
Spring cabbage is sown in summer and overwinters in the ground to crop the following spring, filling the ‘hungry gap’ before other vegetables get going. Cutting for hearts while leaving the stump in place gives a useful second, smaller crop of greens.
Sowing & growing calendar
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow | Sow in July | Sow in August | ||||||||||
| Plant | Plant in September | |||||||||||
| Harvest | Harvest in March | Harvest in April |
Care details
- Harvest March – April
Cut as hearts form; leave stumps for a second, smaller crop.
- Sow July – August
Sow now for cabbages next spring.
- Plant In September
Plant out into their final spot.
Growing tips & common problems
- Firm planting matters more than for most brassicas — loose roots produce poor hearts.
- Net against pigeons through winter, when other food is scarce and cabbages are an easy target.
- Leave the stump in the ground after cutting the heart — it will often produce a second, smaller crop of greens.
Grows well with
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