Q&A for How to Plant Cabbage

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  • Question
    What are the main challenges regarding planting and growing cabbages?
    Andrew Carberry, MPH
    Food Systems Expert
    Andrew Carberry is a Food Systems Expert and the Senior Program Associate at the Wallace Center at Winrock International in Little Rock, Arkansas. He has worked in food systems since 2008 and has experience working on farm-to-school projects, food safety programs, and working with local and state coalitions in Arkansas. He is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and holds a Masters degree in public health and nutrition from the University of Tennessee.
    Food Systems Expert
    Expert Answer
    One of the biggest challenges is getting your cabbages planted out at the right time. Check with other growers in your area to see when they put theirs out.
  • Question
    What type of soil is good for planting cabbage?
    Sander1
    Community Answer
    Clay, as it holds water and nutrients (which cabbage really needs a lot of) very well.
  • Question
    Where can I purchase cabbage seeds?
    Community Answer
    Hardware stores, specialty plant/farm supply stores, or even just your local department store during the growing season.
  • Question
    My cabbages are all big leaves with no head. What's happened?
    Community Answer
    There are many factors that can cause a cabbage to grow without a head. You may just have to give the cabbage more time: It can take up to 70-plus days for some cabbages to grow a head. Other issues that can cause this include too much nitrogen in the soil, exposure to extreme cold or heat, and rot or damage. To help the cabbage grow a head, you can try watering it or fertilizing it with phosphorus.
  • Question
    How do you grow cabbage for the seeds?
    Community Answer
    You can cause a cabbage to bolt by exposing it to higher temperatures than normal. Bolting is the process of creating flowers to produce seeds, and a cabbage will enter this stage when the temperatures get too high and the cabbage cannot thrive: the cabbage will instead focus its energy on producing seeds for the next generation. To initiate the bolting process to produce seeds, expose the cabbage to temperatures higher than 80 F (27 C).
  • Question
    How can I grow cabbage under netting?
    Community Answer
    Butterfly net is best to use, it allows the light and rain to get through but it keeps out the dreaded cabbage white butterfly.
  • Question
    Are there any negative effects in applying 5 cabbage seeds in one hole? How can I ensure that my plant is growing well?
    Community Answer
    Not if you thin out to the one strongest plant, as cabbages need a lot of space.
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