It doesn’t take long at all before your Napa cabbage is ready for harvest! The real secret to success, though, is timing your planting perfectly so the cabbage doesn’t bolt (start flowering) too early.
How to get your seeds
You can easily pick up seed packets at your local garden center or hardware store. But if you’re feeling adventurous, you can actually save your own! Just let a few of your Napa cabbage plants flower on purpose and collect the seeds once they’re ready. These little black seeds will stay viable for a long time if you store them in a cool, dark, and dry spot until you’re ready to plant.
To give your cabbage the best start possible, make sure to loosen up your soil and mix in a healthy layer of compost. Since this veggie is usually sown in mid-to-late summer, you don’t necessarily need to start it indoors—but you totally can if you want a head start! Just pop the seeds into a tray with some seed-starting mix and keep them on a sunny windowsill. At temperatures between 70°F and 75°F (20-25°C), they’ll sprout in no time. After about four weeks, those little seedlings will be ready to move out to the garden.
Tips for successful sowing
Napa cabbage loves a spot with plenty of sun, though it’ll do just fine in partial shade too. The most important thing is the soil: it needs to be rich in organic matter and packed with nutrients. Plant your seeds about half an inch to an inch deep, and make sure to space them about 12 to 16 inches apart. These cabbages grow surprisingly wide, and you don’t want them fighting each other for elbow room!
Once you’ve got them in the ground, keep that watering can handy. If the soil dries out, those delicate seedlings won’t make it. Napa cabbage is a very “thirsty” vegetable (it’s mostly water, after all!), so it needs consistent moisture throughout its growth phase. Don’t forget to give them a little organic fertilizer every now and then to make sure they have all the fuel they need to grow big and crunchy.
