Crops › Cabbage (Spring)
How to grow Cabbage (Spring)
in the UK
Sow July to August, plant out September, harvest March to May. About 200 days from seed to plate.
Spring cabbage, now this is a proper welcome sight after a long winter, isn't it? It's one of the first things you'll be getting off the plot in the spring, a real sign that the gardening season is kicking off properly. To be honest, there's nothing quite like that first crunchy bite from your own homegrown spring cabbage.
Sowing
Right, for spring cabbage, you want to get your seeds in the ground around July or August, directly outdoors is best. Sow them thinly, about 1 cm deep, in a nice prepared seedbed. If you're a bit tight on space or just want to be sure, you can always pop them in modules or small pots on the windowsill or in a cold frame, then transplant them out later. Once they're up and growing a bit, thin them out so they've got some room to develop. You'll be looking at about 200 days from popping that seed in the ground to getting it on your plate, so it's a bit of a long game.
Growing on
When your young plants have got a few true leaves, usually around September or October, that's when you want to transplant them to their final spot on the allotment. Give them a good 30-45 cm between each plant, depending on the variety, so they've got room to grow into proper heads. Make sure the ground's well-prepared, plenty of compost dug in. Like I say, these are going to be sitting there all winter, so they need a good start.
Looking after it
Once they're in, the main thing is to keep them watered, especially if we have a dry spell. A bit of general-purpose feed when they're establishing helps, but don't overdo it. Earth up the stems in late autumn or early winter, you know, pile a bit of soil around the base, it helps keep them stable against the winds and frosts.
What goes wrong
Oh, the usual suspects love a bit of cabbage, don't they? Cabbage white butterflies are a pain, so netting is your best friend there to keep those caterpillars off. Pigeons can be a nightmare too, they'll strip a young plant in no time, so netting helps with them an' all. And then there's club root, which can really set them back, so make sure you're rotating your brassicas each year.
Harvest
You'll be harvesting these beauties from March right through to May, depending on when you sowed them and the variety. You can take them as spring greens, just cutting the outer leaves as you need them, or leave them to heart up into a proper cabbage. To be honest, they're best eaten fresh, straight from the plot. They don't store anywhere near as long as your winter cabbages, so get them cooked up and enjoyed.
My best tip for spring cabbage is to plant a few extra, because something always seems to get one, whether it's a slug or a cheeky pigeon. That way, you're guaranteed a cracking harvest come spring.
Dates for your plot
Type the first half of your postcode and the plant-out advice shifts to your area's typical frost dates.
Varieties, and whether the club would grow them again
| Variety | Club verdict |
|---|---|
| Durham Early This heritage variety is a proper tough cookie, giving you hardy, pointed heads. It's cracking for early spring greens, a real taste of the season. | No club votes yet |
| Pixie Pixie is a smart choice for smaller plots or if you're a bit tight for space, producing lovely compact pointed heads. You can plant them a bit closer together, which is always a bonus, you know what I mean. | No club votes yet |
| Spring Hero F1 This one's a champion for getting through the winter, offering reliable round heads even when it's proper cold. If you're after a dependable overwinterer that won't let you down, Spring Hero F1 is your plant. | No club votes yet |
| Advantage F1 Advantage F1 gives you lovely ball-headed cabbages, and the great thing is they stand in the ground well without splitting. It's a proper solid maincrop variety for a good harvest. | No club votes yet |
| Wheelers Imperial A true heritage favourite on the allotment, Wheelers Imperial produces those classic dark green pointed heads. It's a cracking reliable choice if you fancy growing a bit of history. | No club votes yet |
| April As the name suggests, April is one of the earliest you can get, giving you compact pointed heads. If you're keen to get your first spring cabbage on the plate quickly, this is the one for you. | No club votes yet |
| Offenham 2 - Flower of Spring This is a proper classic allotment variety, a real favourite for its impressive large heads. If you've got the room and want a cracking traditional cabbage, you can't go wrong with Flower of Spring. | No club votes yet |
| Myatts Offenham Compacta A compact take on the classic Offenham, this one's great for smaller plots, still giving you those lovely dark green leaves. It's perfect if you want that traditional flavour but don't have loads of space. | No club votes yet |
| Greyhound Greyhound lives up to its name, maturing quickly to give you pointed heads nice and early. It's a good choice if you're after a speedy crop to get things moving in the spring. | No club votes yet |
| First Early Market 218 This is a cracking early variety, giving you reliable pointed heads when you're desperate for some fresh greens. It's one of the first you'll be harvesting, to be honest, a real dependable performer. | No club votes yet |
Votes are members rating varieties in their Seed Tin, one vote per gardener. Tap a variety for the full page and where to buy.
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Cook the harvest
A vibrant, punchy side dish that puts spring cabbage at the centre rather than the edge of the plate. High heat and a short cook time keep the leaves lively and slightly charred at the edges, while ginger, garlic and a splash of soy sauce bring real boldness. On the table in under twenty minutes, start to finish.
18 min · easyColcannon is Irish comfort food at its finest, and spring cabbage makes by far the best version — its tender, sweet leaves melt into the mash in a way that January savoy simply cannot match. Leeks add another layer of gentle sweetness, and a truly irresponsible amount of butter brings it all together. Serve it as a side or eat it as a meal in itself with a fried egg on top.
45 min · easyThis is a proper weeknight supper — big, satisfying and built around a generous pile of spring cabbage that braised low and slow becomes silky and sweet. Fiery nduja melts into the base giving the whole dish a deep, paprika-red heat, while white beans make it substantial enough to eat on its own with good bread. Italian in spirit, but perfectly at home on a rainy British April evening.
30 min · easyFresh, crunchy spring cabbage is the backbone of these vibrant Vietnamese rice paper rolls, giving every bite real texture and sweetness alongside tender prawns, vermicelli, and herbs. The cabbage is shredded generously here — it earns its place, not just as filler but as the ingredient that holds everything together. Serve with a punchy peanut dipping sauce and they disappear fast.
40 min · mediumWatch for, and grow alongside
Companions: onions, garlic, rosemary
Questions people ask
When do you sow Cabbage (Spring) in the UK?
Sow Cabbage (Spring) from July to August. Plant out September, after the last frost.
How long does Cabbage (Spring) take from sowing to harvest?
Roughly 200 days, with the harvest March to May.
Which Cabbage (Spring) varieties do gardeners grow again?
Club members rate every variety they grow. This page shows the grow-again votes for Durham Early, Pixie, Spring Hero F1, Advantage F1 and more.
Track your Cabbage (Spring) from packet to plate
Sowing reminders and harvest forecasts for your own frost dates, the Seed Tin, Scan Centre for any label or packet, and the Potty Mouth Garden Club. Free to start.
Allotment keeper in the North East of England, the voice behind the Tony C Smith YouTube channel, and the gardener who built GrowMore CookMore. Club numbers on this page update as members log their plots. Last updated 3 September 2026.