Do you love eating cabbage?

It’s one of those vegetables that people tend to either love or dislike intensely. If you’re among those who enjoy it, you’ve come to the right place.

Not only do I want to encourage you to keep incorporating cabbage into your meals, but I also want to inspire you to grow it yourself. While there are some common pitfalls that gardeners encounter with this crop, I’m here to help you navigate them.

I’ll walk you through the most frequent mistakes people make when cultivating cabbage and share tips on how to avoid them.

So, if you’re excited about the prospect of growing cabbage, here are the key errors to sidestep as you welcome this wonderful vegetable into your garden:

1. Growing Only One Variety

If you want to enjoy a steady supply of fresh cabbage weekly, you’ll need to choose between two strategies: succession planting or growing multiple varieties. Sowing all your seeds at once means you’ll have to harvest everything at the same time. This common mistake often leads to excess cabbage that may go to waste unless you’re prepared to eat it daily or preserve it as sauerkraut.

Luckily, there are plenty of cabbage varieties with different maturation timelines. For example, One Kilo Slow Bolt Napa matures in approximately 50 days, while Red Acre requires 75–100 days. Planting these types together allows for staggered harvests over one to two months.

When selecting seeds, consider picking a few different types. Mixing varieties not only adds diversity in colors and shapes to your garden but also ensures you’re not overwhelmed with several pounds of cabbage all at once.

2. Fertilizer Mistake

Nitrogen plays a crucial role in leaf development, so when your cabbage isn’t receiving enough, it may appear weak or have discolored leaves. Cabbages are heavy feeders and require more nutrients than other leafy vegetables, such as spinach or lettuce.

To ensure your cabbage gets sufficient fertilizer, apply a generous amount of compost at the time of transplanting. After planting, spread the compost in a wide ring around the base of the plant, extending about a foot outward. This provides ample nitrogen and other essential nutrients for the plant to absorb as it grows.

If compost isn’t available, a balanced fertilizer can be used as an alternative. A 10-10-10 fertilizer is ideal for newly transplanted cabbage to support strong root development and overall growth.

After the first month, you can supplement with a high-nitrogen fertilizer or another layer of compost. Neglecting their nutrient needs will result in underperforming cabbages. Provide them with adequate nitrogen, and they’ll reward you with tightly packed, healthy heads.

3. Space Mistake

Proper spacing is crucial for cabbage growth. Crowding the plants too closely is a frequent error that can cause stunted growth, increased susceptibility to pests and diseases, and might even discourage gardeners from trying to grow them again. It’s essential to consider the mature size of cabbages instead of the tiny seedlings when determining the spacing.

In a garden setting, ensure each cabbage has up to two feet of space around it. For those planting in rows, leave about three feet of distance between each plant to allow them enough room to thrive.

Since cabbages can reach heights of two feet, avoid placing them under taller plants that might obstruct their upward growth. Companion planting is possible, but be sure there’s enough space for all the plants to grow freely and without interference.

4. Time or Place Mistakes

When it comes to gardening, timing plays a critical role. Planting cabbage too early can expose it to dangerously low temperatures, potentially killing the plants. On the other hand, planting too late may cause them to bolt prematurely as summer heat sets in.

Temperature determines the right timing, while proper placement depends on sunlight. Excessive sunlight during the day, combined with rising temperatures, can also lead to early bolting. Cabbages thrive with up to eight hours of sunlight daily, but they prefer the cooler and shorter days of spring, as they’re not heat-tolerant.

Since cabbage requires more sunlight than other leafy greens, you can strategically plan your garden by reserving shady spots for plants like spinach or lettuce and placing cabbage in sunnier areas. If you aim to grow cabbage through the summer, consider planting it in a shaded location with morning sun to help it avoid the intense afternoon heat.

Once cabbages start forming heads, sunlight becomes even more essential. While young plants can tolerate less light, a well-developed head requires plenty of sun exposure.

5. Watering Mistake

Mastering the art of watering cabbage takes a bit of practice, but it gets easier with time. If your cabbage leaves feel tough, it’s a sign they need more water. Keep the soil consistently moist, ensuring it never fully dries out. Aim to provide about an inch of water per week if there’s no rainfall.

Overwatering, however, can lead to cabbage heads splitting due to excessive water pressure within the plant. While split heads are still edible, they might not look as appealing—especially if you’re planning to snap a photo of your first successful harvest!

To minimize issues, use a soaker hose to water the base of your cabbage plants, as this prevents water from splashing onto the leaves. Wet leaves are a common cause of pest infestations and diseases.

If overhead watering is your only option, do it early in the morning. This allows the leaves to dry before the midday heat or the cooler nighttime temperatures. Leaves that remain wet during the heat may sustain damage, while moisture left overnight creates a breeding ground for diseases.

6. Ignoring Weeds

Let’s face it—pulling weeds is probably the least enjoyable part of gardening. While I genuinely love tending to my garden, weeding is the one task I could do without.

That said, keeping weeds under control is essential. Allowing them to overrun your garden will negatively impact your plants’ health and growth.

Weeds pose a significant threat to cabbage. They harbor pests and diseases, compete with your plants for essential nutrients, and reduce airflow around them.

To tackle this problem, apply a layer of mulch around the base of your cabbage plants. Mulch helps suppress weed growth and retains soil moisture. For any stubborn weeds that manage to push through, it’s best to remove them by hand.

7. Neglecting Pest and Disease Management

Neglecting pests and diseases in your garden is never wise. Make it a habit to regularly inspect your garden to identify any potential issues before they escalate.

Look out for unwanted pests that may have settled in your growing space, and be sure to examine your cabbage plants for any signs of disease.

To stay on top of pests and diseases, conduct daily garden checks. If you spot any signs of disease, address them promptly. Common cabbage diseases include downy mildew and clubroot.

As for pests, cabbage is often targeted by cutworms, cabbage maggots, and aphids. These pests can typically be managed with an appropriate insecticide to protect your plants.

8. Cabbage Heads Won’t Form

Several factors can lead to the failure of cabbage plants to form heads. While it’s a common challenge when growing heading plants, it can still leave gardeners feeling frustrated and wondering what went wrong. To avoid this issue, ensure you steer clear of some common mistakes.

Two primary causes often prevent cabbage heads from forming. First, overcrowding is a significant issue. Make sure to leave at least two feet of space between each plant to allow proper development.

The second common cause is inadequate soil moisture. If the soil becomes too dry or isn’t kept consistently moist, your cabbage plants may struggle to grow properly. Maintaining even moisture levels is key to encouraging healthy head formation.