How to grow cabbage in a greenhouse? When to plant and how to care for it?

Growing cabbage in a greenhouse is an opportunity to get a stable harvest even in regions with an unstable climate. Cabbage is a crop that requires humidity, light and nutrition, but greenhouse conditions allow you to control all these parameters, ensuring optimal growth and development of plants. In this guide, we will consider all stages of growing cabbage: from soil preparation to harvesting.

Optimal conditions for growing cabbage in a greenhouse

Temperature conditions

Temperature plays a key role in growth and head formation:

• Seed germination: +18…+22°C.
• After emergence: +12…+15°C to prevent seedlings from stretching.
• Vegetation and head formation: +16…+20°C.
• Critical points: Temperatures above +25°C slow down growth, and above +30°C can lead to the formation of loose heads of cabbage and loss of taste.

Humidity and watering

• Optimum air humidity is 60–75%.
• Soil moisture – 70–80%.
• In high humidity conditions, regular ventilation is necessary to avoid fungal diseases.
• The best method of watering is drip irrigation, as it provides uniform moisture and prevents water stagnation.

Lighting

• Cabbage needs 12-14 hours of light per day.
• In winter, additional illumination with phytolamps is required.
• Lack of light leads to the elongation of seedlings and a decrease in the quality of heads of cabbage.

Tip: To save energy, use LED grow lights with a cold spectrum that stimulate plant growth.

Timing of planting cabbage in a greenhouse

Planting times depend on the variety:

• Early cabbage (90–120 days before harvest) – sowing in February–March.
• Late cabbage (120–160 days before harvest) – planting in April–May.
• Cauliflower (60–80 days before harvest) – sowing in March–April.
• Chinese cabbage (40–60 days before harvest) – from May to September.

Tip: To get a harvest all year round, use the conveyor planting method - plant new plants every 2-3 weeks.

Choosing a Cabbage Variety for a Greenhouse

Type of cabbage	The best varieties for a greenhouse	Peculiarities
White cabbage	"Transfer F1", "Golden Hectare", "Megaton F1"	Early maturing, resistant to bolting, forms dense heads of cabbage.
Red cabbage	"Gako", "Rubin"	High cold resistance, suitable for long-term storage.
Colored	Snowball, Goodman, Fremont F1	Requires stable lighting, forms dense inflorescences.
Brussels	"Diablo F1", "Hercules"	Long growth period, requires regular feeding.
Beijing	"Glass", "Michelle F1"	Fast growing crop, resistant to low temperatures.

Tip: Choose hybrid varieties that are resistant to diseases and adverse conditions.

Technology of planting cabbage in a greenhouse

Soil preparation

1. Deep digging to a depth of 30–35 cm with removal of weed rhizomes.
2. Fertilizer application: 5 kg humus + 300 g wood ash per 1 m².
3. Acidity correction: when pH is below 6.2, add dolomite flour.
4. Disinfection: 10 days before planting, the soil is watered with a solution of Fitosporin.

Sowing and planting seedlings

• The seeds are germinated in containers at +18…+22°C.
• In the phase of 2-3 leaves, the seedlings are pricked out.
• Before planting, hardening is carried out by reducing the temperature to +8…+10°C.
• Distance between plants:
  • White cabbage – 30–40 cm.
  • Colored – 25–30 cm.
  • Brussels – 40–50 cm.

Caring for cabbage in a greenhouse

Watering

Watering plays a key role in growing cabbage, as this crop is sensitive to lack of moisture. Lack of water leads to slow growth, stiff leaves and reduced head weight. However, excessive watering is also harmful - it can provoke root rot and the development of fungal diseases.

• The first 2 weeks after planting the seedlings, watering is done once every 2-3 days, using 3-4 liters of water per plant. It is important to moisten the soil evenly, preventing stagnation of water.
• After rooting and vegetation, the frequency of watering is reduced to 1–2 times a week, but the volume of water increases to 5–7 liters per plant.
• During the period of head formation, especially abundant watering is required, 8-10 liters of water per plant, since a lack of moisture can lead to the formation of loose and small heads.
• 10-14 days before harvesting, watering is reduced so that the heads of cabbage become denser and are stored better.

Tip: The best method of watering is drip irrigation, as it allows you to maintain uniform soil moisture, preventing it from drying out or becoming over-watered.

Top dressing

To obtain a quality harvest, cabbage must be regularly fed. Different growth phases require specific nutrients:

1. Phase 3-4 true leaves (10-14 days after planting):
   • Nitrogen fertilizers (stimulate the growth of greenery and the development of leaves):
     • Mullein infusion (1:10) – 1 l per 1 m².
     • Urea (carbamide) – 10–15 g per 10 l of water.
     • Green fertilizer (nettle infusion) – 1 l per 10 l of water.
   • Additionally: the introduction of humates improves nitrogen absorption and strengthens the root system.
2. Formation of heads (25–30 days after planting):
   • Phosphorus-potassium fertilizers (strengthen roots, accelerate head formation):
     • Superphosphate – 15–20 g per 10 l of water.
     • Wood ash (source of potassium) – 200–250 g per 1 m².
     • Potassium sulfate – 10 g per 10 l of water.
   • Additionally: foliar feeding with boric acid (1 g per 1 l of water) improves the density of heads of cabbage.
3. 2 weeks before harvesting, stop fertilizing so that the cabbage does not accumulate nitrates.

Tip: Alternate organic and mineral fertilizers to provide plants with all the necessary elements.

Protection from diseases and pests

Cabbage is susceptible to many diseases and pest attacks, so prevention and timely treatment are the key to a healthy harvest.

Main diseases and their prevention

• Black leg - affects seedlings, causing darkening and rotting of the stem.
  • Prevention: treat seeds with a solution of potassium permanganate (1 g/l) before planting, moderate watering, loosen the soil.
  • Treatment: dust the soil with ash or trichodermin.
• Powdery mildew is a white coating on leaves that causes them to die.
  • Prevention: regular ventilation of the greenhouse, treatment with Fitosporin.
  • Treatment: spraying with milk whey (1:10) or colloidal sulfur solution (10 g/10 l of water).
• Clubroot is a tumor on the roots that leads to the death of plants.
  • Prevention: crop rotation, maintaining neutral soil pH.
  • Treatment: remove affected plants, water the soil with lime milk (200 g of lime per 10 l of water).

Main pests and methods of control

• Cabbage aphids are colonies of small insects that suck the juice from the leaves.
  • Traditional methods: garlic infusion (200 g per 10 l of water), soap solution.
  • Biological products: Actofit, Fitoverm.
• Flea beetles are small jumping beetles that chew through leaves.
  • Prevention: mulch the soil with peat, regularly spray with ash infusion.
  • Treatment: insecticide treatment (Karate Zeon, Decis).
• Cabbage moths are caterpillars that damage cabbage heads.
  • Traditional methods: wormwood infusion, manual collection of caterpillars.
  • Biopreparations: Lepidocide, Bitoxibacillin.

Tip: Practice crop rotation – do not grow cabbage in the same place more than once every 3 years to reduce the risk of disease.

Harvesting and storage

Collection dates

• Early cabbage – 60–90 days after planting.
• Late cabbage – at a temperature of +2…+5°C.
• Cauliflower – cut off heads 8–12 cm in diameter.

Storage conditions

• Storage temperature: 0…+2°C.
• Humidity: 85–90%.
• Storage methods:
  • In nets or wooden boxes.
  • Hanging by the stalk in well-ventilated areas.
  • Storage in trenches (for late varieties).

Advice: Before storing, dry the cabbage and remove damaged leaves.

Growing cabbage in a greenhouse

Growing cabbage in a greenhouse requires maintaining the temperature regime, proper nutrition and protection from diseases. Use modern technologies - drip irrigation, automated ventilation and hybrid varieties to get a healthy and high-quality harvest.

Want to grow cabbage with maximum yield? Greenhouses from NovaTeplitsa provide ideal conditions for growing vegetables. Check out the models on our website and start growing cabbage professionally today!