When to Plant Cabbage in Sydney, Warm Temperate Guide

Sow January to September. Right now in October it is out of season. The next sowing month is January.

Planting window
Plant from late summer through autumn, plus a late-winter sowing of a quick variety. Cabbages heading in midsummer suffer from heat and...
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 Warm Temperate zone, which takes in Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth

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 Warm Temperate

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

S = Seed Tray   T = Transplant   D = Direct Sow

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Current Growing Conditions

Soil temperature: 18.6°C (optimal range: 5–30°C) ✓ Ready to plant

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

What this month normally looks like

In October the Warm Temperate zone normally runs 24°C by day and 13°C overnight, with about 66 mm of rain over 7 or 8 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -1.5°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 153 postcodes, SILO.

How to Grow Cabbage in Warm Temperate Australia

When to Plant

Plant from late summer through autumn, plus a late-winter sowing of a quick variety. Cabbages heading in midsummer suffer from heat and cabbage white caterpillars.

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.

Warm Temperate Growing Tips for Cabbage

Recommended Varieties

  • Golden Acre
  • Green Coronet
  • Savoy King
  • Red Express
  • Drumhead

Key Challenges

  • Cabbage white butterfly from spring
  • Split heads from irregular watering
  • Downy mildew in cool wet spells

Pro Tips

  • Autumn plantings often more reliable than spring in Sydney
  • Consistent watering is critical to prevent splitting
  • Net all brassicas from September when butterflies emerge

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.

Where to next

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

Also worth sowing in the warm temperate zone this October: Lemongrass, Beetroot, Chilli Peppers and Cucumber.

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 Sydney?

No. In the Warm Temperate zone the planting months are Jan to Sep. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.

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 Warm Temperate zone, Sydney is its reference city.