How to grow cabbage in containers [Helpful guide]

Do you like to grow your own vegetables? Cabbage is a cool-season vegetable that can be grown in containers. It’s easy to grow and doesn’t require a lot of care. If you’re looking for an interesting and tasty addition to your container garden, consider growing cabbage.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to grow cabbage in containers. We’ll also provide some tips on how to care for your cabbage plants.

Cabbage is a versatile vegetable that grows well in almost every climate. It has a long growing season and can be harvested throughout the year. Cabbage is also a good source of vitamins and minerals.

But before you start planting seeds or buying cabbage plants, you should know how much space you’ll need to grow cabbage. The amount of space needed depends on the variety of cabbage you want to grow.

Main types of cabbage you can grow

There are three main types of cabbage: savoy, red, and green.

Savoy cabbage is the most common type, and it grows best in cool weather. Red cabbage is usually grown during hot summer months. Green cabbage is the least common type, and it requires warmer temperatures.

The following chart shows the approximate size of the container required for each type of cabbage.

Savoy cabbage

Savoy cabbages require about 6-8 inches of soil depth. This means that they will not grow in pots with less than 4 inches of soil depth.

They do not like wet conditions, so make sure your potting mix does not contain any water. You may have to add some peat moss to prevent drainage problems.

Red cabbage

Red cabbages require about 8-10 inches of soil depth. These cabbages prefer slightly acidic soil (pH 5.5). They don’t tolerate too much moisture, so make sure your soil doesn’t get soggy.

If you live in an area where summers are extremely hot, consider using tomato cages to support the plant.

Green cabbage

Green cabbages require about 10-12 inches of soil depth. Make sure your soil is rich in nitrogen and phosphorus.

They’re very sensitive to cold temperatures, so if you live in a colder region, keep them inside until the temperature warms up.

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How to Choose a Container for Cabbage?

If you’re planning to grow cabbage in containers, there are several things you should take into consideration when choosing the right container. Here’s what you need to know:

Size

Cabbage needs at least 4-6 inches of soil depth to grow properly. Soil depth refers to the amount of soil in the bottom of the pot.

Pot Size

Cabbage prefers large pots because it gets more sunlight. But remember that larger pots mean bigger roots. Therefore, you must choose a pot that’s big enough to accommodate the root system of your cabbage.

Soil Depth

You can use regular garden soil as long as it contains adequate nutrients. However, if you want to grow cabbage in containers without adding fertilizer, then try using a potting mix instead.

Watering

Cabbage likes to stay dry, but if you provide it with plenty of water, it will produce lots of leaves. If you notice that your cabbage starts wilting after watering, then you’ve probably overwatered it. Water only when the top 2/3 of the soil is dry.

Temperature

Cabbage is a warm weather crop, so if you plan to grow it outside, make sure your container is protected from extreme heat.

In addition, you should also be aware of the ideal range of temperature for growing cabbage. It should be between 50°F and 70°F. If you live in a cooler climate, you can still grow cabbage indoors by providing it with light shade.

Light

Cabbage is a leafy vegetable, so it needs bright light. If you place it under direct sunlight, it will burn its leaves.

Container Material

When selecting a container material, you’ll want to look for one that’s durable. Avoid plastic or wood because these materials tend to rot over time.

Also, avoid ceramic because it tends to crack easily. Instead, opt for clay, concrete, or fiberglass.

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How to Prepare the Container for Planting Cabbage?

Before planting your cabbage, you’ll first need to prepare the container. Follow these steps to ensure that your cabbage grows healthy and strong:

1. Remove all weeds and debris
2. Add compost
3. Fill the container with potting soil
4. Water thoroughly
5. Place the cabbage in the center of the container
6. Cover the container with a clear plastic bag
7. Wait for the seedlings to sprout
8. Keep the soil moist
9. Once the plants have grown tall enough, remove the plastic cover
10. Harvest and enjoy!

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Growing cabbage from seed

Growing cabbage from seed is easy. Just follow these steps:

• Plant seeds in small pots filled with moistened potting soil.
• Water the soil thoroughly after planting, but avoid over watering.
• Keep the soil consistently moist but not saturated.
• Place the pots in a warm location out of direct sunlight.
• Feed the plants regularly with fertilizer.
• When the plants reach 2 inches tall, transplant them into larger pots.
• Continue to feed the plants regularly as they grow.

Cabbage is one of the easiest vegetables to grow from seed. Once you’ve mastered this process, you can easily grow other crops such as tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, lettuce, spinach, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, radishes, onions, cucumbers, melons, squash, beans, peas, and many more!

How to Plant Your Cabbage in a Container?

You can use either fresh or dried manure compost to fertilize your cabbage. Fresh manure contains lots of nutrients, while dried manure is easier to handle.

To fertilize your cabbage, simply sprinkle the manure around the base of the plant. Do not apply manure directly to the leaves.

If you plan to harvest your cabbage at the end of its growing cycle, remember to cut off all the lower leaves first. Then remove the outer leaves until only the heart of the head remains. Cut off the stem just above the crown. Remove the rest of the outer leaves by hand.

If you want to eat your cabbage raw, leave the leaves on. Otherwise, remove the outer leaves before eating.

When you harvest your cabbage, try to pick it when it’s still young. The older the cabbage gets, the tougher it becomes.

To store your cabbage, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate it. It should last for two weeks.

To freeze cabbage, place it in freezer bags and seal well. Store it in the freezer for up to six months.

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How to Fertilize Cabbage Plants?

Fertilizing cabbage plants helps increase their growth rate. You can use any type of organic fertilizer, including fish emulsion, blood meal, bone meal, kelp meal, rock dust, seaweed extract, alfalfa meal, cottonseed meal, cottonseed hulls, soybean meal, and others.

Fertilizer also encourages the formation of root hairs, which help absorb water and minerals from the soil. This promotes healthier roots and shoots.

Follow these guidelines to fertilize your cabbage plants:

1. Use a half-strength solution (half the amount recommended on the label).
2. Apply fertilizer once every week during the vegetative stage of growth.
3. Avoid applying fertilizer too close to the crown of the plant.
4. Wait three days between applications.
5. Monitor the pH level of the soil. If it falls below 6.0, add lime to raise the pH.
6. Don’t fertilize if the temperature exceeds 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
7. Avoid over-fertilization. Too much fertilizer will cause the leaves to yellow.
8. Never use synthetic fertilizers. They are toxic to plants.
9. Add some compost to the soil to improve drainage.
10. Keep the soil moist but not wet.
11. Water weekly during the active growing season.
12. After harvesting, let the soil dry out slightly before watering again.
13. Avoid using chemical pesticides and herbicides. These chemicals may harm the environment and pollute the air.

FAQs

You may like the following gardening blogs:

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• How to grow lotus in garden + Tips and Tricks
• Growing broccoli in pots or containers (Detailed Guide)
• How to get rid of grasshoppers in my vegetable garden
• Acorn Squash Plant – Growing and Caring tips
• How to use mushroom compost in vegetable garden

So, this gardening blog will be helpful to grow and care cabbage in containers or pots. Also, hope it helps grow cabbage in water and the varieties of cabbage you can grow in containers. Happy Gardening!