In its processed form, red cabbage is a classic accompaniment to many traditional dishes. Under certain conditions and with a few simple tricks, you can easily grow it yourself in your own garden.

Site selection and soil preparation for growing red cabbage

Early planning pays off twice when cultivating red cabbage, as it not only has a positive effect on growth, but also reduces certain susceptibility to diseases and pests. It is advisable to fertilize the soil with stable manure in the previous autumn and to work this into the subsoil. This provides ideal soil for planting the seedlings in early spring.

Whether in a raised bed or on the ground, red cabbage should be grown in a rather sunny location in order to thrive optimally. Since the red cabbage can grow very large under the right conditions, a generous distance of at least 40 centimeters between the plants or sowing sites is recommended.

Sowing and protecting young plants

The sowing of red cabbage in the cold frame should take place in the third week of April if possible, as experience has shown that this early sowing date ensures less susceptibility to pests. However, it is also possible to sow red cabbage in the seed bed at the end of May in order to harvest winter cabbage. If sown in August or September, the young plants will overwinter under a protective layer of spruce needles, and then be moved to their final location in March.

In order to protect the still young red cabbage plants from excessive sunlight and pests, it is advisable to cover them with a fine net in the early growth stage. This protects against the dreaded cabbage fly, but also provides shade for the cabbage plants.

harvest and storage

Depending on the planting date, red cabbage can be harvested at different times of the year. So red cabbage heads from the planting date in March already reach an impressive size in August. The cabbages from the sowing date in May follow at the end of October to the beginning of November. If the red cabbage cannot be eaten fresh, it should be left outdoors until the first frost at night, as it keeps better here than indoors.

The harvested red cabbage can be smashed into earth beds or cellars together with the roots. Without roots, it can be stored for a while in a cool shed with a shortened shelf life. For a longer shelf life, you can boil it in jars, which means that the red cabbage can also be used as a ready-to-cook red cabbage.

tips and tricks

  • Place young red cabbage plants with the entire root neck deep in the ground
  • deposited stable manure provides a perfect substrate
  • a sunny location and an early planting date protect against pests
  • Cabbage should not be grown repeatedly in the same place
  • Precultures are possible with celery, carrots, parsley, spinach or beans

Category:

Vegetable garden