Drumhead Cabbage - 0.5 Gram

Drumhead cabbage is a traditional and popular variety of cabbage known for its large, rounded, and tightly packed heads. The leaves are thick, smooth, and blue-green, forming a solid "drum"-like shape — hence the name. It has a sweet, mild taste and is excellent for cooking, coleslaw, or fermentation (like sauerkraut).

Type Brassica oleracea (Capitata Group)

Head size Typically 20–30 cm in diameter

Maturity 80–100 days from sowing (depending on variety and conditions)

Growing & Sowing Drumhead Cabbage

Sowing

Indoors (for early crops) Start seeds 6–8 weeks before the last expected frost.

Outdoors Sow directly in early spring or late summer for a fall crop.

Seed depth 1–1.5 cm deep

Spacing

Between plants 45–60 cm

Between rows 60–75 cm

Growing Conditions

Soil Fertile, well-drained with a pH of 6.5–7.5

Sunlight Full sun (6+ hours/day)

Watering Consistent moisture is key — water regularly but avoid waterlogging.

Fertilizer Apply a nitrogen-rich fertilizer early, then switch to a balanced feed as heads form.

Care Tips

Mulch around plants to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

Rotate crops yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases.

Common Pests & Problems

Cabbage White Butterfly (Pieris rapae)

Symptoms Green caterpillars munching holes in leaves.

Control

Use insect-proof netting.

Pick off caterpillars manually.

Biological control introduce parasitic wasps or use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt).

Cabbage Root Fly

Symptoms Wilting plants, stunted growth, and brown roots.

Control

Use root collars at planting.

Avoid planting in infested soil without rotating.

Aphids

Symptoms Sticky honeydew, curled or yellowing leaves.

Control

Blast with water or use neem oil/insecticidal soap.

Encourage natural predators like ladybirds.

Slugs and Snails

Symptoms Ragged holes in leaves, slime trails.

Control

Beer traps, copper tape, or evening hand-picking.

Use organic slug pellets if needed.

Clubroot

Symptoms Swollen, deformed roots; yellowing, wilting leaves.

Control

Rotate crops.

Add lime to raise soil pH (if acidic).

Choose resistant varieties if available.