Simple tips on how to grow Red Cabbage

One of the best red cabbage varieties to grow is Rovite F1, This variety is actually one of the reliable red cabbage to grow in Autumn and Winter.

Where to grow the red Cabbage

The Red cabbage can actually tolerate shade but they will do much better in a sunny spot. A shelter is also beneficial. Make sure you avoid soil that becomes waterlogged or conversely dries out rapidly.

              

When to grow red cabbage

This plant are normally sown February to mid April for transplanting from April to early June and also cropping between August and November.

Transplanting of Red cabbage

It should be transplanted early enough before the heat of summer. There are many varieties that are available and 2 or 3 varieties with different maturities can provide harvest over a long period. Some of the hardened plants are tolerant of frosts and they can be planted among the earliest cool-season garden vegetables. Red cabbage is easily transplanted from either bare-root or cell-pack-grown plants. The plants will be about 6 weeks old, between 2 ½ -3 inches (6-8cm high), with about six leaves. Make sure you water the ground deeply around the young plants the day before you intend to move them, doing this will really prevent damage and shock to them. Also make sure that the soil is quite firm to allow steady cabbage leaf growth.

You can make rows of 4-inch deep holes in the transplanting area at 12-14 inches apart. Also allow 12 inches (30cm) between each of the plant rows.

You can plant each transplant into the prepared hole, do not worry yourself that you are planting them too deep. Just plant the seedlings firmly, and then water them very well, take great care not to disturb the roots. These four inch deep holes will often swallow the plant up to its first leaves but it will also solve the problem of leggy wind-rocked stems.

How to care for red cabbage

Make sure you keep the soil around the cabbage weed-free. Try and be very careful when weeding because the roots can easily damaged. Make sure you remove any yellow leaves or those badly damaged by caterpillar or slug attack as you go. Make sure you keep an eye on the plants over autumn and winter, you can firm the plants down if lifted by frost or pulling some soil up around the stems to help prevent against wind rock as needed.

Make sure you don’t allow the plants to dry out as this may result in plant bolting.

Try and make sure you water the plant gently once a week.  Make sure you carryout this watering in the morning and try to avoid splashing the leaves, you can water the soil instead. After 4^th to 5^th week of germination you can apply a well balanced fertilizer.

Pests and Diseases control in red cabbage

Try as much as possible to protect the plant against birds most especially if pigeons are a problem in your area. The protection of the plant from birds can be done in the form of fine netting. Also netting will prevent butterflies from laying their eggs on the plant.

The harvesting of red cabbage plants

This plant can be harvested anytime after the heads form. To get the highest yield, you can cut the cabbage heads when they are solid (firm to hand pressure) but before they crack or split. Don’t forget that when the heads are mature, a sudden heavy rain can cause the heads to crack or split wide open, the exposed internal tissue will become unusable. You can harvest and salvage split heads as soon as possible after they are discovered.