When to Plant Cabbage in Perth, Mediterranean Guide

Sow year round in Perth. That includes right now, in October.

Planting window
Can be planted all year, but autumn and late-winter plantings do best. Summer plantings need netting against cabbage moth and steady water.
Days to harvest
about 10 weeks
Sunlight
Full sun (6-8 hours minimum). Part shade tolerated in subtropical/tropical zones.
Water needs
Deep, consistent watering 2-3 times per week. Inconsistent watering causes split heads...
Spacing
50cm apart, 60cm between rows
Soil pH
6.0-7.5

Published · Last reviewed · By GardenBuddy.au
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.

This Cabbage guide is written for the Mediterranean zone, which takes in Perth, Adelaide and Bunbury. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs

Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.

Cabbage

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Cabbage is a cool-season brassica staple available in green, red, savoy, and conical forms. It grows well across all Australian climate zones when planted in the correct season. A heavy feeder that rewards good soil preparation with dense, satisfying heads for slaws, stir-fries, fermenting, and traditional cooking.

See what grows now in your own postcode

Planting Calendar for Mediterranean

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
S/T/D S/T/D S/T/D S/T/D S/T/D S/T/D S/T/D S/T/D S/T/D S/T/D S/T/D S/T/D

S = Seed Tray   T = Transplant   D = Direct Sow

You can sow cabbage in any month in Mediterranean, but the months are not equal. Summer heat brings faster bolting and heavier pest pressure, so pick a heat tolerant variety, sow little and often, and give afternoon shade from December through February.

Want a nudge when it is Cabbage sowing time in Perth?

One email a week with what is worth planting in the Mediterranean zone right now, Cabbage included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.

Current Growing Conditions

Soil temperature: 16.9°C (optimal range: 5–30°C) ✓ Ready to plant

Modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Perth), not a live sensor.

What this month normally looks like

In October the Mediterranean zone normally runs 22°C by day and 10°C overnight, with about 38 mm of rain over 6 or 7 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -0.2°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 19 postcodes, SILO.

How to Grow Cabbage in Mediterranean Australia

When to Plant

Can be planted all year, but autumn and late-winter plantings do best. Summer plantings need netting against cabbage moth and steady water.

Soil
Rich, firm, well-drained soil with heavy compost and aged manure. Cabbage needs solid soil structure for head formation; loose sandy soils produce loose heads.
pH Range
6.0-7.5
Sunlight
Full sun (6-8 hours minimum). Part shade tolerated in subtropical/tropical zones.
Spacing
50cm apart, 60cm between rows
Watering
Deep, consistent watering 2-3 times per week. Inconsistent watering causes split heads. Drip irrigation ideal. Avoid overhead watering to reduce disease. Reduce water as heads firm up to prevent...

Companion plants: Celery, Dill, Onion, Chamomile, Thyme, Sage

Avoid planting near: Strawberry, Tomato, Other brassicas (disease transfer), Grape

Grow before, grow after

Cabbage belongs with the brassicas, the leafy greens and brassicas turn of a four turn bed rotation.

Grow before it
Legumes (Beans - Dwarf, Peas, Broad Beans)
Grow after it
Fruiting crops (Tomato, Capsicum, Zucchini)

Give the bed 3 turns before brassicas go back in. The cabbage family is hungry for nitrogen and shares club root and other soil diseases.

Mediterranean Growing Tips for Cabbage

Recommended Varieties

  • Golden Acre
  • Savoy King
  • Red Express
  • Drumhead
  • Sugarloaf

Key Challenges

  • Summer heat prevents growing November-February
  • Cabbage white butterfly active spring-autumn
  • Water restrictions in summer

Pro Tips

  • Perth and Adelaide have ideal cabbage climate April-October
  • Time plantings to use winter rainfall and reduce irrigation needs
  • Autumn-planted cabbages grow through winter rain for spring harvest

Harvesting Cabbage

When ready: Head is firm and solid when squeezed. Outer leaves may begin to yellow or flare outward. Head has reached expected size for variety. Drum-like sound when tapped.

How to harvest: Cut head at base with sharp knife, leaving 4-6 outer wrapper leaves. Leave stump in ground; it may produce small secondary heads. Harvest in cool of morning.

Common Cabbage Pests in Mediterranean Zones

Cabbage White Butterfly Caterpillars, risk: LOW (score: 36/100)

In the pest library for cabbage:

Cabbage White Butterfly, high severity Corn Earworm / Tomato Grub (Heliothis), high severity Diamondback Moth / Cabbage Moth, high severity Powdery Mildew, high severity Downy Mildew, high severity Fusarium Wilt, high severity Damping Off, high severity Bacterial Spot, high severity Common Garden Snail, high severity Possums (Common Brushtail, Ringtail), high severity Aphids (Green Peach, Cabbage, Cotton), moderate severity Cutworms, moderate severity Slugs, moderate severity Kangaroos and Wallabies, moderate severity

Organic prevention (Cabbage White Butterfly): Cover crops with insect exclusion netting immediately after planting. Companion plant with nasturtium as trap crop. Grow strongly-scented herbs (thyme, sage) nearby. Encourage parasitic wasps.

View all pest alerts →

Where to next

What cabbage costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.

Also worth sowing in the mediterranean zone this October: Lemongrass, Radish, Zucchini and Beetroot.

The pest most likely to find your cabbage: Cabbage White Butterfly.

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Common Questions About Cabbage

When do you plant cabbage in Australia?

It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:

Does cabbage grow all year round in Perth?

Yes, every month is on the calendar for the Mediterranean zone, though not every month is equally easy. Can be planted all year, but autumn and late-winter plantings do best. Summer plantings need netting against cabbage moth and steady water.

Which zone am I in?

Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Mediterranean zone, Perth is its reference city.