Preparing to sow cabbage in the specified May days for hillside cultivation, as per the lunar calendar of the year 2025.
Growing a Cabbage: Your Comprehensive Guide
Cabbage is a hearty, frost-resistant veggie, but it demands some TLC. From sowing seeds to transplanting, timing and care at each growth stage are essential, as per our research.
Here's a rundown of ideal planting and transplanting dates that cater to frost-prone regions:
- For sowing seeds in a greenhouse in late spring (May 2025): May 2, 3, 11
- For transplanting seedlings and hardening off: May 15, 20, 21
- For transplanting in open ground (southern areas): May 25, 26, 29, 30
Remember, even with favorable lunar dates, watch the weather. Avoid transplanting when night frosts are anticipated. Typically, cabbages are transplanted to beds no sooner than late May - early June in middle latitudes, once the soil has warmed to at least +10-12 °C.
For a bountiful harvest, follow these practices:
- Apply growth stimulants to seeds
- Gradually acclimate seedlings
- Water with warm water
- Mulch the soil
A successful cabbage crop is about more than just planting. It's about attending to each growth stage with care.
Additional Insights:
Planting and transplanting schedule:- Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost date.- Transplant seedlings when they reach 5-6" tall or have 4-5 true leaves.- Soil should be at least 50°F (10°C) for transplanting.
Key care requirements:- Maintain 24" between plants for proper head formation.- Incorporate compost and fertilizer into the soil before planting (cabbages are heavy feeders).- Water consistently, especially during head formation.- Use row covers for pest control like cabbage worms, and rotate crops yearly.
Seasonal management:- Choose cold-hardy varieties like Savoy for early plantings.- Opt for heat-tolerant starts and provide afternoon shade in warm regions for fall crops.- Implement frost protection methods for early/late season plantings.
Harvest and preservation:- Harvest when heads feel firm, usually 70-100 days.- Steaming preserves nutrients best.- For storage varieties, leave 2-3 wrapper leaves and keep at 32°F (0°C) with high humidity.
Pro tip: Engage in succession planting every 2-3 weeks for continuous harvests, using a mix of early, mid-season, and storage varieties. For lunar-specific dates, consult a moon phase calendar, focusing on waxing moon periods for planting and full moon for fertilizing.
- In a greenhouse, sow cabbage seeds six to eight weeks before the last frost date, aiming for dates like May 2nd, 3rd, 11th for optimal growth.
- When seedlings reach a height of 5-6 inches or have 4-5 true leaves, transplant them outside, making sure the soil temperature is at least +10-12 °C, such as on May 15th, 20th, 21st, or later for southern areas.
- For a bountiful harvest, incorporate compost and fertilizer into the soil, space plants 24 inches apart, water consistently, especially during head formation, use row covers for pest control like cabbage worms, and rotate crops yearly.
- To manage cabbage plants seasonally, choose cold-hardy varieties like Savoy for early plantings, opt for heat-tolerant starts and provide afternoon shade in warm regions for fall crops, and implement frost protection methods for early/late season plantings.
