Sowing the Seeds of Fresh Cabbages for Next Spring

### Growing Spring Cabbages If you're fortunate enough to have a decent-sized patch in your garden, now is the perfect time to start growing spring cabbages. These vegetables will grow swiftly in summer's ideal conditions, overwinter in the ground, and be ready to pick next spring. However, it's essential to consider the space and time required for these delicious but time- and space-hungry crops. ### Protecting Your Cabbages from Pests When growing spring cabbages, it's crucial to protect them from pests such as butterflies, pigeons, and other brassica-hungry creatures. To do this, you can pot young cabbage plants on and keep them protected until they are sturdy enough to survive a bit of munching. Even when they are ready to go in the ground, using insect-proof mesh to protect them is a good idea. Appropriate spacing is also important, with 30-40cm between plants depending on the variety, to give them room to grow and make it easier to monitor their progress. ### Choosing the Right Variety If you do plant spring cabbages closer together, you can harvest some as spring greens and leave the remainder to keep growing until they develop into full heads. This is a great way to make the most of your space and get a head start on your harvest. When choosing a variety, consider the space you have available and the time you're willing to dedicate to growing your cabbages. ### Growing Cabbages Year-Round It's quite possible to grow cabbages pretty much year-round. Those ready for harvest in the summer months are sown in late winter or early spring, while autumn cabbages are sown from mid-spring but tend to be large and need plenty of space. Winter cabbages are also on the bigger side and boast a hardiness that can withstand a British winter, making them a great option for those who want to grow cabbages during the colder months. ### Microgreens and More One of the best things about the brassica family, to which cabbages belong, is that they are edible from the off. This means that you can grow cabbages as microgreens if you're interested, or eat what you've grown and call it a day if you change your mind. This flexibility makes growing cabbages a great option for those who want to try their hand at gardening but are unsure about committing to a full-sized crop.