Cabbage
Brassica oleracea var. capitata
Also known asGreen cabbage · Red cabbage · Savoy cabbage · Headed cabbage · Kohl
Environment
The bounded range this crop tolerates.
Climate and zones
- USDA zones
- 3–10 (winter low around -40°C)
- Frost
- frost hardy
- Season
- cool (spring/fall)
Growing systems
Root mass: heavy. Thin-channel systems can't hold this crop.
Growing media
| Medium | pH effect | Retention | Bacterial surface |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soil-based mix (Potting soil) | varies | high | high |
| Coco coir (Coconut coir) | slightly acidic | high | moderate |
Nutrient demand by stage
NPK ratios are relative weights. EC targets shift through the plant's life.
| Stage | N | P | K | EC (mS/cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| seedling | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1.2 |
| vegetative | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2.2 |
Companion-growing notes
- Heavy uptake of nitrogen, potassium. Co-grown crops with the same demand will end up deficient even at "correct" EC.
Aquaponics suitability
Compatible
Fish waste provides enough nitrogen for healthy growth. Supplemental potassium, calcium, and iron may still be needed depending on fish stocking density.
Care notes
A moderate hydroponic crop for cool-season growing. Use large containers or media beds with about 15 cm of depth for the roots. Hold EC around 1.8-2.8 mS/cm and pH 6.0-7.0. Best at 12–22°C: below 10°C heads form slowly but with fine quality, while above 25°C they go loose and may split. Give moderate light, 14-22 mol/m2/day. From transplant the crop runs 70 to 100 days for standard varieties, 50 to 65 for early or mini types such as Gonzales or Pixie, and the mini varieties suit hydroponics better since they take less space. The head forms as the inner leaves wrap progressively tighter; harvest when it is firm and dense, before overmaturity splits it. Steady calcium prevents internal tipburn, brown margins on the inner leaves. Caterpillars, the cabbage looper and imported cabbageworm, are the main pests. The long crop time and space needs make cabbage less efficient than faster greens, but mini varieties are still viable.
Notable varieties
| Cultivar | Type | Days | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Jersey Wakefield | heirloom | 65 | 1840 American heirloom. Pointed conical 1-1.5 kg heads. The earliest cabbage, what gets planted for first-summer harvest before heat shuts down brassica growth. |
| Copenhagen Market | heirloom | 75 | 1909 Danish round green cabbage, 2 kg heads. Storage-quality but earlier than dedicated storage varieties. Good all-purpose home garden choice. |
| Brunswick | heirloom | 95 | Large flat 3-5 kg heads, the traditional sauerkraut cabbage. Late storage, keeps well in cold cellar. |
| Savoy Perfection | open pollinated | 95 | Crinkled savoy leaves, milder flavor than smooth green cabbage. Holds in the field longer without bolting; the savoy of choice for fall harvest. |
| Mammoth Red Rock | heirloom | 100 | Large deep-red heads, 2-3 kg. The most cold-hardy red cabbage; the variety to grow if you want red cabbage in zone 4-5. |