How to Grow Early Jersey Wakefield Cabbage
Brassica oleracea var. capitata 'Early Jersey Wakefield'
Early Jersey Wakefield is a beloved heirloom cabbage prized for its compact, sweet-tasting heads that form early in the season. Gardeners value this cool-season brassica for its reliable performance in gardens where quick harvests are desired before summer heat arrives.
Starting Early Jersey Wakefield Cabbage: indoors or direct sow?
🏠 Start indoors 4 weeks before your last spring frost, then move the seedlings outside.
Seedlings can be transplanted outdoors carefully once the soil has warmed slightly after the last frost, handling roots gently to avoid shock.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, fertile soil with a pH between 6.0 and 6.8 to ensure healthy root development. As a cool-season crop, sow seeds directly outdoors or start them indoors two to six weeks before your last spring frost date. Plant the seeds about one inch deep; they typically sprout within five to ten days once conditions are right.
Space plants twelve to fifteen inches apart to allow proper air circulation and head formation. While this variety does not require trellising, keep soil consistently moist with about an inch of water weekly. Apply a layer of mulch around the base to retain moisture, and feed lightly if growth seems sluggish as the plant matures.
Watch for cabbage worms, aphids, flea beetles, loopers, and root maggots; use row covers or organic sprays for control. Prevent clubroot, black rot, and downy mildew by rotating crops and ensuring good drainage. Harvest heads when they are firm and tight, typically sixty-three to seventy-five days after sowing.
When to Plant Early Jersey Wakefield Cabbage
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | April – May | June – July | August – September |
| Zone 2 | April – May | May – July | July – September |
| Zone 3 | March – April | May – June | July – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | April – June | July – October |
| Zone 5 | February – March | April – May | June – November |
| Zone 6 | February – March | April – May | June – November |
| Zone 7 | February – March | March – May | May – November |
| Zone 8 | January – February | March – April | May – December |
| Zone 9 | January | February – March | April – December |
| Zone 10 | January | January – March | March – December |
| Zone 11 | January | January – February | February – December |
| Zone 12 | January | January – February | February – December |
| Zone 13 | January | January – February | February – December |
Companion Plants for Early Jersey Wakefield Cabbage
✓ Good companions
Repels cabbage white butterflies and improves soil moisture retention
Attracts beneficial wasps that prey on cabbage worms and aphids
Provides ground cover, conserves soil moisture, and doesn't compete for nutrients
Repel nematodes and various flying insects that attack cabbage
Act as trap crop for aphids and flea beetles, drawing pests away from cabbage
Strong scent deters cabbage moths, aphids, and other brassica pests
Compatible root systems and harvested before cabbage needs full space
Deters cabbage worms and flea beetles with strong aromatic oils
✗ Keep away from
Can shade cabbage and their nitrogen fixation may cause excessive leaf growth over head formation
Both are heavy feeders that compete for nutrients, reducing yields
Compete for similar nutrients and may stunt cabbage growth
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
