The following information is all about Growing Cabbage in Containers.
Introduction for Cabbage Vegetable
Cabbage is leafy vegetable crop comes in green, red, white. Cabbage heads can be green, purple or white colors. Smooth leaf green headed Cabbages are common, purple headed Cabbages are rare. Cabbages are grown for their heavy heads, leaf heads produced in the first year of crop year used for consumption. Cabbages are successfully grown in containers with rich soil, adequate irrigations, and fertilization.
Cabbages are the rich sources Vitamins K, C and B6, and dietary fiber. Cabbages are used in all types of cuisines for its amazing flavor. Cabbages are cool-season crops, they need constant sun and moisture for proper growth. Cabbages are more prone to diseases, use natural remedies than going for chemical pesticides for producing organic Cabbages. Cabbages can be grown on the terrace, sunny balconies, backyards with the help of containers and pots.
Scientific Name: Brassica Oleracea.
Common Name: Cabbage.
Family: Cabbage belongs to the family of Brassicaceae.
Cabbage in Indian Languages
English: Cabbage.
Tamil: Muttaikosu.
Malayalam: Muttakose/Cabbage.
Telugu: Gos Koora/ Kos/Cabbage.
Kannada: Kosu/Ele Kosu.
Hindi: Bandh gobi/ Patta Gobi.
Bengali: Bandha Kopee.
Gujarati: Kobi.
Konkani: Cabbage/Kale.
Marathi: Pan Kobi/ Bandha Kopee.
Punjabi: Gobi.
Kashmiri: Band.
Varieties of Cabbage In Containers
Cabbage comes in three types: Savoy, Purple, white, spring green and green Cabbage.
Savoy Cabbages have crimped or curly leaves, they have a mild flavor and tender texture.
Spring green Cabbages are loose headed Cabbages.
Green Cabbages come in dark green color and pointed heads. These are most commonly grown.
Red Cabbages come in purple, red colors have smooth leaves. these are rare grown Cabbages.
White Cabbages are also called Dutch Cabbages, have smooth pale green leaves.
Compact varieties savoy Cabbages like Savoy Express, Savoy Queen and Savoy King.
Compact variety of green Cabbages are King Cole, Cheers, Gonzales, Rubicon, and Kaitlin.
Compact variety red Cabbages: Rub Ball, Red Meteor and Red Express.
Steps for Growing Cabbage In Containers
Best Containers for Growing Cabbage In Containers:
Cabbage plants have grown up to 4 feet wide and height.
Select the containers that can hold 5 gallons of soil.
Use wide containers made of plastic or wood.
the Container should have a good draining system.
Clean the container with soap and water. Dry the container completely.
Cover the bottom of the container with small stones and gravel.
Best Soil for Growing Cabbage In Containers:
The pH levels of soil should be 6.5 to 7.
Use well-drained, high fertile soil rich in organic matter.
When growing Cabbages in warm seasons use a commercial potting mix with plant-based organic soil.
If growing Cabbages in winter season use animal-based organic soil.
Fungus and bacteria in garden soil can cause diseases. so, it is advisable to use a commercial potting mix.
Best Season for Growing Cabbage In Containers:
The ideal temperature for growing Cabbage in containers is 4°C to 22°C.
Spring and fall are seasons for growing Cabbage.
Early Autumn season can also be a good time to grow Cabbages.
Moderate climate is the best key to grow Cabbages.
In summer, add a thick layer of mulch and the required amount of water to control the soil temperatures.
Propagation of CabbageInContainers:
Cabbage can be propagated from both seeds and seedlings.
Cabbage seeds look like mustards. They will be in a dark or red-brown in color. Seeds can be purchased online or from nurseries.
you can grow seedling at home or can buy them from garden centers or nurseries.
Growing Cabbage In Containers from Seeds:
Choose a wide-open tray for growing seedlings.
Mix the fertile soil with organic compost in ratio half of 2:3. Spread the 2-inch layer soil on the tray loss don’t tap the soil. Cover it with a 1-inch layer of potting soil. Potting soil fastens the germination process.
Or you can fill the tray with complete commercial potting soil which is rich in organic matter.
Spread the seeds on the soil and cover with potting mix loosely.
Provide moderate water with water can don’t make the soil soggy or too wet.
Cover tray with a mulching sheet it provides adequate temperature levels that fasten seed germination. Keep the tray in the place where it gets good sunlight.
Cabbage seeds take 7 to 15 days for germination. Germination period depends upon the climate and moisture levels, the ideal temperature for the seed to sprout is 20 C.
Seedling takes 4 to 6 weeks to get ready for transplantation. They should grow up to 3 to 4 inches height with 2 to 3 sets of true leaves for transplanting.
Growing Cabbage In Containers from transplants:
you can buy transplants from nurseries or can grow seedlings as yourself following the above procedure.
Fill the pot with potting mix. Keep it loose don’t tap the soil.
Dig small holes in the middle of the container and plant the seedling very carefully.
Water the plant with water can with a fine rose. Maintain the constant moisture level in the soil.
Place the container where it gets good sunlight for at least six hours. Cabbage plant needs a good amount of sunlight, shade or partial slow the growth of the plant.
And tap the soil around the stem.
Add a mild granular slow release fertilizer of N: P: K ration 12:12:12 after planting.
Place a horticultural fleece over the seedlings for a few weeks to protect young plants.
Check the container regularly, potting dries quicker than the normal soil during warm weathers.
Check the moisture level by poking the finger into the soil. Water the plant whenever the top one-inch layer of the soil in the container looks dry. Water the plants till water drains out of the draining holes.
The plant should be given a liquid fertilizer when heads begin to form.
Cabbage takes 75-160 days to get ready for harvesting.
When and How to Water for Growing Cabbage In Containers:
Water the plants in early hours.
Cabbage needs regular watering and needs almost 2 to 4 cm of water per week.
Always use a sprinkler to water the Cabbage plants.
Required Sunlight for Growing Cabbage In Containers:
Cabbage plant needs a good amount of sunlight for 5 to 6 hours or even more, for proper grow
Partial sun or shade can reduce the growth of the plant.
Place the plant where it receives at least 5 to 6 hours of sunlight.
Best location for Growing Cabbage In Containers:
Cabbage plant needs full sunlight for 5 to 6 hours for healthy growth of plants.
Partial sun or shade can reduce the yields.
So, place our container in sunny areas like balcony/backyards/terraces/window shelves.
Required Fertilizer for Growing Cabbage In Containers:
Cabbages are heavy feeders.
Fertilize them every week with a balanced feed. Provide fertilizer with boron, calcium, and magnesium for better growth.
When Cabbage plants start producing heads, feed them with water soluble or liquid fertilizer with N: P: K ration of 20:20:20. Use fertilizer as per instructions on the label.
Feeding the plant with fish emulsion and natural composts or tea composts will increase the nutrient levels in the soil, that promotes the leafy growth of the plant.
Winter Care for Growing Cabbage In Containers:
Cabbages are frost tolerant plants, they can survive up to temperatures up to 4 degrees.
When the temperature goes cover the plants with plastic cover and punch some holes for ventilation. Move the containers to shade or indoors at night time when the temperature is too low.
Place them in sunlight at day time.
Water the plants when needed.
Splitting and Mulching In Growing Cabbage In Containers:
When the head of the Cabbage grows to maximum size it splits.
Splitting can be a big issue when head splits before it grows completely.
Split Cabbages will have low taste and cannot be stored.
Splitting can be occurred due to heavy rains, drought. Splitting problem is high in fast-growing varieties and early varieties.
Mulching can help to reduce splitting to some extent.
Mulching maintains the moisture levels in the soil and reduces the stress on the plants.
Timely irrigations will control the head splits in Cabbage.
During heavy rains cover the plants with feeder roots or plastic covers, this reduced chance of split heads during heavy rains.
Pests and Diseases of Growing Cabbage In Containers:
Cabbages are more prone to diseases and pests, select disease resistant variety to grow in containers.
Damage on foliage indicates the attack of pests.
Cabbage can be affected by many pests like aphids, Cabbage worms, Cabbage Loopers, aphids and root maggots
Use floating covers to plants to protect from early pests.
Aphids can be washed out with a strong water stream.
Cabbage worms and lopper can be hand picked.
To control cutworms, wrap up the plant stalks with cardboard or tin foil.
Increasing the pH levels in the soil to treat clubfoot diseases. The pH levels can be increased by adding lime to the soil.
If the plant is affected with purple blotch, don’t water the foliage.
Cabbage plant can be attacked by fungal, bacterial and viral diseases.
Using commercial potting soil may reduce the attack of fungal diseases.
Black speck disease in Cabbage caused due to cold weathers. Increasing the potassium levels in the soil will control black speck.
The soap spray oil helps to control common insects on the leaves. Mix soap with vegetable oil and spray on the affected areas of the plants.
Garlic and neem oil also is the best natural pesticides that can kill larvae of the insects.
Harvesting and Storing Methods for Growing Cabbage In Containers:
Harvesting period of Cabbage is 95 to 150 (3 to 4 months) days.
Cabbage takes a minimum of 8 weeks to mature.
Head size of container grown Cabbage will be small compared to ground grown Cabbage heads.
Cabbage is ready to harvest whenever head appears.
Spring sown Cabbages are harvested in November month.
Squeeze the heads for checking firmness, if the head is loose and weak, it indicates that the head is not read
Grow Cabbage to the maximum size, Cabbage head splits when it grows to a maximum size.
Harvest before head splits, or harvest immediately as soon as heads start splitting.
Head splits can attract diseases or pests as harvest them as soon as possible.
Use a harvesting sharp knife to harvest Cabbage head, sharp knife will minimize damage to the plant.
Cut the heads with 2 to 3 wrapper leaves to protect Cabbage from damage.
When you harvest Cabbage, plant leaves, the stems in the container and continue growing. Many Cabbages will regrow after a couple of weeks.
Cabbage can stay fresh for 2 to 3 days at room temperature.
Cabbage can be stored in the refrigerator for more two weeks.
Tips for Growing Cabbage In Containers
Cabbage plant requires adequate and constant moisturizers.
Mulch preserves moisture in the soil.
Don’t place cauliflower, broccoli, kale etc. near Cabbage containers, as the chances diseases can increase.
Using a commercial potting mix can reduce diseases to some extent.
Best companion plants for Cabbage or celery, dill, mint, garlic, potatoes, peas, onions etc.
Cabbage plants need good amounts of nitrogen during the formation of heads.
Cabbage plants need a good amount of phosphorous and potassium for good foliage and expansion of outer leaves.
High temperature or low temperature for long periods may cause premature bolting in Cabbage plants.
Cabbage plants are prone to nutrient deficiency like boron, calcium and potassium.
Over watering mat cause head splitting in Cabbages. Water the plant by checking the moisture levels.
Mid- February to mid-April are the best months to sow Cabbage seeds.
Midday showers, slightly with a rose can flush out the insects or larva eggs.
Mulching control weeds, but weeding should be done once or twice in a month.
