Copenhagen Market Cabbage Seed

Copenhagen MarketCabbage Seed

Historic Danish cabbage remains a benchmark for reliability
Dense six-to-eight-inch heads resist splitting in the garden
Compact three-to-four-pound size suits smaller spaces
Firm heads can store for several months

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Key Attributes

Botanical Name

Brassica oleracea

Days to maturity

65 Days

Sun

Full Sun

Packet

200 Seeds

About Copenhagen Market, Cabbage Seed, Cabbage Seed

First released in 1909 by H. Hartmann & Company, this historic Danish cabbage has earned its reputation as a dependable garden classic and a benchmark for many modern varieties. It forms dense, well-wrapped heads measuring about 6–8" across and weighing 3–4 pounds, making it an excellent choice for smaller gardens. Plants mature quickly, adapt well to a wide range of growing conditions, and show strong resistance to splitting. Once harvested, the firm heads store exceptionally well—often lasting up to six months—adding to the long-standing appeal of this time-tested heirloom.

Growing details

Planting

Sow Depth

1/4"

Days to Germination

3–10 days

In-row plant spacing

18-24"

Row Spacing

Plant profile

Maturity

Spring, Fall

Life Cycle

Annual

Plant Height

24 inches

Growth Habits

Rosette

Seed & variety

Seeds Per Ounce

6,875

Color

Green

Seed Type

Heirloom

Growing Season

Cool-Season Crop

Before Planting

Cabbage grows best in a full-sun site with fertile, well-drained soil where brassica crops have not recently grown. Incorporate compost and use a soil test to adjust pH and nutrients, supplying lime before planting only when needed. Prepare a firm, weed-free bed and harden transplants gradually before setting them outdoors.

Planting

Start cabbage indoors 4–6 weeks before transplanting, sowing seed about 1/4–1/2 inch deep. Germinate near 70–75°F, then grow seedlings cooler under strong light. Harden well and transplant 12–18 inches apart in early spring. Start fall cabbage in early to midsummer so heads mature during cool weather.

Watering

Provide about 1–1½ inches of water weekly and keep moisture steady while cabbage develops. Water deeply at soil level, especially during heading or enlargement, and avoid prolonged saturation.

Fertilizer

Side-dress cabbage with a nitrogen-containing fertilizer after establishment and during rapid growth if needed. Follow soil-test recommendations and avoid concentrated fertilizer near stems.

Harvesting

Cut cabbage when heads feel solid and reach the expected size. Use a clean knife at the base while leaving outer leaves and roots intact; some varieties may produce small secondary heads.

Tips

Use insect netting or row cover immediately after planting cabbage, securing every edge. Rotate brassicas to a new bed each season, and remove crop residue promptly after harvest.

AVG. Seeding Rate

100 seeds/50', 500 seeds/250', 1M/500', 29M/acre at 2 seeds/ft. with rows 36" apart.

Pests & Diseases

Prioritize black rot, clubroot, downy mildew, Alternaria leaf spot, and Fusarium yellows in cabbage. Black rot’s V-shaped marginal lesions and clubroot’s swollen roots are distinctive. Choose resistant cultivars where available, use clean seed, rotate brassicas, and avoid splashing irrigation. Soft-rotting heads should be removed before decay spreads.

Cabbage is vulnerable to cabbageworms, loopers, flea beetles, aphids, and root maggots. Cover young plants, examine leaf undersides and the head center, remove caterpillars, and rotate brassica beds.