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Cabbage

Brassica oleracea var. capitata

Cool‑season · frost‑tolerant · start indoors

102–142 days from seed to harvest

60–100 days to harvest after transplant

Ideal15 – 24 °C
Tolerates4 – 27 °C

Cabbage is a cool-season leafy vegetable in the mustard family that tolerates light frost. The usual start is indoors, then transplant, and harvest is about 60–100 days from transplant (about 9 to 14 weeks).

Primary method: start indoors

Cabbage is usually started indoors, then moved outside when the weather suits the tolerable range.

  1. Start seed. Sow seed indoors. Germination typically takes 3–10 days.
  2. Grow seedlings. Keep seedlings growing indoors until they are ready to harden off. About 4 weeks (25 days)
  3. Harden off. Gradually acclimate indoor seedlings to outdoor conditions before planting. About 7 days
  4. Transplant. Move seedlings outside once daytime air stays inside the tolerable range. 4 – 27 °C.
  5. Grow to harvest. About 6–8 weeks indoors before transplant (about 42 days total). 60–100 days from transplant (about 9 to 14 weeks).
Typical days from indoor sowing to harvest — not calendar dates.
  1. Start seed
    Day 0–10
    3–10 days
  2. Grow indoors
    Day 10–35
    25 days
  3. Harden off
    Day 35–42
    7 days
  4. Transplant
    ~Day 42
    when days stay within 4 – 27 °C
  5. Grow outdoors
    Day 43–102
    59 days
  6. Harvest
    Day 102–142
    60–100 days from transplant

Direct sowing

Direct sowing is not the usual method for this plant, so there is no separate direct-sow schedule here.

Care basics

Sun: full sun to part shade, at least 6 hours of direct sun.

This plant tolerates light frost.

Types and varieties

Other names: Green cabbage, Red cabbage, Savoy cabbage, White cabbage, Pointed cabbage, Hispi, Sweetheart cabbage. Variety groups are not listed here.

Growing facts

Growing requirements for this plant. Temperatures are daytime air temperatures in °C.
AttributeValue
Plant nameCabbage
Scientific nameBrassica oleracea var. capitata
FamilyBrassicaceae (mustard family)
Time to harvest60–100 days from transplant (about 9 to 14 weeks)
Days to germinate3–10 days
Ideal growing temperature15 – 24 °C
Minimum tolerable temperature4 °C
Maximum tolerable temperature27 °C
Start indoorsYes, usual method
Direct sowNot the usual method
Season typeCool-season, tolerates light frost
Typical start methodStart indoors, then transplant
Lightfull sun to part shade, 6+ hours direct sun

Glossary

Ideal temperature
The preferred daytime range for good growth.
Tolerable temperature
A wider range where the plant can still grow, less optimally.
Harden off
Gradually acclimating indoor seedlings to outdoor conditions before transplanting.
Transplant
Moving seedlings into the garden.
Days to harvest
The usual time to harvest, counted from the start point named beside the number (seed, transplant, or planting).

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