Headstart, (F1) Cabbage Seeds

Headstart (F1) Cabbage Seed

Fast, uniform ball cabbage tailored to Southwest production
Round heads mature early in approximately 68 days
Consistent sizing simplifies harvest and market presentation
Compact cool-season plants fit spring and fall schedules

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Key Attributes

Botanical Name

Brassica oleracea

Days to maturity

68 Days

Sun

Full Sun

Packet

100 Seeds

About Headstart, (F1) Cabbage Seed, Cabbage Seed

Headstart is a fast-maturing ball-type cabbage developed for dependable Southwest production. Compact plants form uniform, round heads in approximately 68 days, supporting consistent harvests and attractive market presentation. Its early maturity fits spring and fall schedules, while the manageable plant size works well in home gardens, raised beds, and closely spaced production rows.

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

5,800

Color

Green

Seed Type

Hybrid

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.