Plant out your Cabbage this month — conditions are right now.
Growing Calendar
This month: May
Log to journalMove seedlings outside carefully
- •Harden off plants
- •Prepare soil outdoors
- •Space plants correctly
- •Water well after planting
Watch Out For
Cabbage white caterpillars devour plants rapidly
check leaf undersides weekly from May and remove egg clusters and caterpillars by hand, or use butterfly netting throughout
Clubroot distorts and rots the roots
lime soil to pH 7 or above before planting if growing on susceptible ground; avoid returning brassicas to the same spot for at least 4 years
Pigeons strip plants bare
netting is essential; even a single day unprotected in autumn or winter can leave plants defoliated
Grown Organically
Every method in this guide works with natural systems — no synthetic chemicals, no shortcuts.
Read our approachCommon Questions
About growing Cabbage in the UK
When do I sow and plant out cabbage in the UK?
Spring cabbages: sow July–August, plant out September–October, harvest March–May. Summer cabbages: sow February–April under glass, plant out April–May, harvest July–September. Winter cabbages (Savoy): sow May, plant out July, harvest October–February.
How do I prevent cabbage white butterfly caterpillars?
Net plants with fine insect mesh from the day of planting out. This is the single most effective measure. Without netting, inspect the undersides of leaves weekly and remove yellow egg clusters and caterpillars by hand before populations establish.
Why are my cabbage plants wilting despite regular watering?
Wilting despite watering often indicates clubroot — a soil-borne disease causing swollen, distorted roots. There is no cure for infected soil. Raise pH with lime, practice a long rotation (4+ years before growing brassicas in the same spot), and improve drainage.
How do I get tighter, denser cabbage heads?
Firm soil is key — press the soil down firmly around each plant at planting. Loose soil leads to open, leafy cabbages. Consistent watering and protection from temperature extremes also help develop dense, well-structured heads.
Member guides
There's more to growing Cabbage than this guide covers.
Seasonal reminders, deeper guides, and the small adjustments that change a harvest.
