Are cabbages especially troublesome to grow?

[ddiogyn]

I'm erecting raised beds and planning what to grow in them next year. I had wanted to have a go with cabbages, but after reading the brassica section in the RHS Vegetable book they do seem a bit of a pain in the arse to rear, eg they seem especially prone to bacterial, fungal or pest attack, requiring the application of different chemical concoctions at different stages of growth. So to those who grow cabbages, how much ongoing maintenance do they actually require in practice?

Thanks!

[PAULW]

Me thinks thou does read to much, KISS keep it simple sunshine, cabbages are pretty simple they can be sown in the ground (read packet for times) then transplanted to a well manured bed. they do need very firm soil in the final bed the only problem I have with brassicaes is cabbage white butterflies but that is easily sorted by spray or hand picking, I have never had fungal or bacterial problems, these problems could be down to how close the plants are planted together given enough room the air can circulate and prevent this, the other thing they love is plenty of water a dry cabbage is a very sad cabbage

[Patchninja]

Think about how cheap they are to buy - simple to grow.

[zazen999]

No, not at all hard.

Sow. Plant out. Firm the soil round them. Leave them to heart up.

Yes, you get a few cabbage whites, but as they are cabbages, unless they are inundated; I leave them be. I put netting over all my brassicas anyway so what happens happens. No need to spray with chemical concoctions; remember with brassicas you eat the leaves and potential flowers; so don't put chemicals on there. Otherwise you may as well just go to a supermarket and buy them.

[taff]

eg they seem especially prone to bacterial, fungal or pest attack, requiring the application of different chemical concoctions at different stages of growth. So to those who grow cabbages, how much ongoing maintenance do they actually require in practice?
Thanks!

If you read in depth about anything, it sounds hard to grow.
Cabbages, piece of wotsit..the hardest part is trying not to sow too many of the tiny seeds at once

[Two_Sheds]

I'd say they are the most troublesome crop I grow, yes. Continually under attack from whitefly, caterpillars and pigeons.
I put debris netting over the crop, but the wind keeps blowing it off and over. Every year I say "never again" but ... you've got to have something to eat over winter.

[oldie]

I find cabbages a doddle. Sow in root trainer, plant out and cover with netting. Water and mulch and thats it. Now cauliflower are a different matter, they either don't grow or bolt.

[Alison]

So long as you net then they're a doddle. Sow at the relevant time in modules, prick out when they're up to a reasonable size for handling into 3" pots and then put in the bed when they have a decent root ball. As said above, firm the soil well and they're fine. Even if you don't get the timings quite right and they don't head up well then they're nice as just green leaves.

Oh yes and no idea why they're telling you to spray with chemicals, never done any of that on mine.

[northepaul]

I was in a similar quandry last year. I tried growing some january kings and caulis over winter, but what with one thing and another, I didnt get any. (Even with netting!!)

Then I thought, actually no-one dont really likes cabbage or cauliflower - doh!

This year, I am growing two types of kale, and PSB - which we do like. I have them growing away nicely in boxes at the moment, and as soon as my summer crops are over, I will firm the ground down, and plant them out., and importantly use collars & net the whole bed!!
(also growing celeriac, salsify and garlic over winter, if anyone's interested )

[binley100]

This year my cabbages (greyhound) have been a doddle(cut the first one today). Yes, they are netted against flying things, no, I don't spray or use chemicals. I did mulch round them with spent coffee grounds and gave them some plastic bottle collars but apart from that I left them pretty much alone. They look pretty good unlike the runners...........

[Dane End Dolly]

I find cabbages are easy as long they are kept away from the dreaded butterflys, i cannot grow cauliflower or calbrese for love nor money.

Kxx

[walldanzig]

Im growing cabbages at the moment and have netted them but thet are not forming hearts and are really tall they have plenty of leaves but I worry they have bolted. As I live in the north my growing season is always slightly later. Do they always form hearts or am I just going to get leaves?

[ddiogyn]

@Walldanzig

Sorry, i haven't an answer to your question, but this may be of use to you in future: the RHS Veg book says that soda of nitrate or sulphate of ammonia should be applied to encourage hearting.

[haza1981]

It's my first year of growing and I simply stuck them in the grown after I had seeded them in a tray. After the first night they were almost destroyed by Pigeons. So I covered and left. I just pulled my first head last week and it was great. I have many more left to pick. The easiest thing I have grown so far!!!! I wouldnt use chemicals unless I had to and I didnt have to.

[BUFFS]

just make sure you add lime to a neutral soil,i did,then netted them,put resident toad in covered corner and have been cropping for the last 4 weeks,greyhound is the best for me,used to help my grandad grow them,he paid me 1/2p a caterpiller(a useful top up to pocketmoney in them days)...and they used to talk about the ratrace,if they could see us now......