Vegetable · Brassica
Napa Cabbage
Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensisA crisp, barrel-shaped cabbage that forms tight, pale heads during the mild stretch of a cool season. It bolts readily if a cold snap hits young plants or if heat arrives before the head fills out, so timing matters more than for most brassicas. The one rule: keep it growing steadily — any check invites premature flowering.
Sow depth
N/A — transplant seedlings
Spacing
16 in apart · rows 24 in
Sun
Full sun
Germination
N/A
Time to harvest
55–75 days
Difficulty
Moderate
When to sow napa cabbage
- Sow from about 2 weeks before your last expected frost until around your last expected frost.
- Sow from about 14 weeks before the first expected autumn frost until about 11 weeks before the first expected autumn frost.
Transplant young seedlings — set out at three to four weeks old to avoid a check in growth.Harden off gradually; a cold snap right after transplanting can trigger bolting.Plant into rich, moisture-retentive soil once nights have settled above 10°C.
Water evenly — irregular moisture stresses plants into flowering early.Feed with a balanced fertilizer at planting and again as heads begin to form.Mulch to buffer soil temperature and keep roots consistently moist.
Cut when heads feel firm and dense all the way through when squeezed.Harvest before hard freezes if planning to store the heads.Store whole heads wrapped in a cool, humid spot for weeks of keeping.
Companion plants
Onions and dill planted nearby help confuse egg-laying moths that hunt for brassica leaves.
Watch out for
Flea beetles — Perforate young leaves with small holes in warm, dry weather. Cover transplants with fine mesh right after planting.Cabbage worms — Chew ragged holes through the forming head. Cover with insect mesh or hand-pick caterpillars regularly.