Napa cabbage is a tight, green cabbage that is often associated with Chinese cabbage and looks a lot like a pale romaine lettuce. As opposed to traditional cabbage, Napa cabbage is a little sweeter and milder in taste. Napa cabbage is delicious in salads or even stir fried. Today we'll show you how to grow Napa cabbage in pots or directly in your garden.
How to Grow Napa Cabbage in Pots or in the Garden
Planting Napa Cabbage:
- Napa cabbage has a long growing season, so you'll want to make sure you use rich, well amended soil.
- For best growth, plant in mid summer to allow the plants to mature as the days cool, in the fall.
- Choose a spot with partial to full sun, making sure your plant gets at least 4-5 hours of sunlight a day.
- Mix in a few inches of organic matter such as compost or manure.
- If you're planting in spring, you can direct sow once all danger of frost has passed, or you can start seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost date.
- Place each seed 1/2 inch deep and 6 inches apart.
Care:
- Napa cabbage is pretty self reliant and therefore doesn't require a lot of care.
- In dry spells, make sure to water your plant on a regular basis.
- Amend the soil to avoid using fertilizer. If not, you can fertilize using soy meal or a fish emulsion fertilizer.
Harvesting Napa Cabbage:
- Napa cabbage will take about 70-80 days to mature.
- You'll know they're ready to be picked when the heads feel dense.
Happy Planting!
