PlantSowGrow
How to grow Cabbage (Greyhound)
Brassica oleracea Capitata Group
A quick, compact, pointed summer cabbage with sweet, tender leaves.
At a glance: Sow mid February to early April, harvest from late June.
When to sow, plant and harvest
Timed for a typical UK garden (last frost mid-April). The app uses your own town's frost dates.
Growing Cabbage (Greyhound): what it needs
- Light
- Full sun · 6+ hours a day
- Watering
- Water regularly in dry weather
- Soil
- Fertile, well-drained soil
- Spacing
- 35 cm
- In pots
- Only in large containers
- Feeding
- A general feed before sowing or planting
- Harvest
- About 85 days from sowing
- Hardiness
- USDA zones 3–9
- Difficulty
- Easy
Step by step
- Mid February – early April · 8 weeks before the last spring frost
Sow Seeds Indoors
Sow in modules or small pots of seed compost under cover.
- 7–14 days after “Sow Seeds Indoors” · Late February – early March
Check Germination
Seedlings should appear in 7–14 days. If sown outdoors, thin to 35 cm apart when big enough to handle.
- 14–21 days after “Check Germination” · Mid March
Pot On Seedlings
Move seedlings into 9 cm pots (or keep in modules) when they have their first true leaves.
- Mid April · 3 days before the last spring frost
Harden Off
Stand plants outside by day for 7–10 days before planting out.
- Late April – late May · 7 days after the last spring frost
Plant Out
Plant out 35 cm apart and water in well.
- 0–3 days after “Plant Out” · Late April
Net Against Pests
Cover with fine insect mesh or netting straight after planting to keep off pigeons, cabbage white caterpillars and flea beetles.
- 60–81 days after “Plant Out” · Late June – mid July
Start Harvesting
Cut heads when firm; leave the stump and cut a cross in it for a second crop of small heads.
- 30–60 days after “Start Harvesting” · Late July – mid August
Finish and Clear
Clear the remains to the compost heap once cropping ends.
