Cabbage????

[auntieemu]

I have never grown cabbage before, am trying it for the first time this year. So, let's hear it - tips please.

Do you start the plants indoors or sow direct? What about bugs?

[bergere]

Bugs don't like Purple cabbage as much as green.
I always started out doors but if you are in a cold clime then starting them in doors 4 to 6 weeks before last frost would be best.
For bugs, you could use beneficial insects to combat the problem. Or food grade DE and dust it on the plants...but you can't use both sadly.
If you use DE you will need to use a face mask.

[Deleted]

I start my cabbage inside (obviously), last frost isn't until the middle of May here. They're supposed to be able to take a little bit of frost, but I think they have to be big enough first.

The cabbage moths got mine before they even started forming heads. They lay their eggs down inside the leaves, then they hatch and start eating everything, and will stay until the heads form and eat those, too.

Last year I planted a ton of borage well away from my little patch of cabbage (I only had 5 plants) because that's supposed to attract the cabbage moths. Well, I never saw any moths around the borage, but they laid their eggs on the cabbages again and I lost those, too.

This year I've got some floating row covers and I'm going to try putting that over them as soon as I put them out in the garden. That is, if the "gentle South Dakota breeze" doesn't blow the row covers into Nebraska. I sure would like to have some fresh, homegrown cabbage some time!

~Lannie

[Deleted]

I have a heating pad that I bought from Gardening. I use that and artifical light. I have discovered if I water and put seran wrap over my flat it will start its own little cycle. But, be sure to keep heat on it or it will start to mold. I have also used old windows and hay bales to build a cold frame. I have had luck with both.
tnborn

[auntieemu]

Thanks everyone.