Spring Cabbage Protection

[Jacob Lockcuff]

Hello! I hope everyone is having a good day. First off, I’m going to try growing some “spring cabbage” this winter. I started the seedlings on the 29th of August, and they seem to have come up for the most part and are looking fairly healthy. Now, I know that on your blog posts you mention that you don’t give your spring cabbages any protection over the winter due to dormancy having set in, but I believe my climate is a bit colder here in the very northwestern corner of Arkansas, USA, USDA zone 6. Our average first frost is usually right about mid October and the first hard freeze in late October into early November. Now, of course every winter is different, some mild and others harsh, but it isn’t uncommon to drop into the negatives (I’m talking Fahrenheit), and we can have days that never get up above the 20’s for a week on end. Snowfall usually occurs from late November through mid February, accounting to usually 6″ to 1 foot, though we can get over a foot at times, but fairly rarely.

During cold spells such as these, would it be a good idea to cover my cabbage with a row cover? Does it even need protection?

Thanks,
Jacob

[charles]

Hello Jacob and thanks for your insight on winter temperatures in zone 6, a bit colder than here!
Cabbage are hardy but yes I think it’s worth using row cover, say from mid to late October, leave it on until snow melts sometime in March, or until early April if they look happy underneath, depending whether you have a lot of wind.
I have not tried this so cannot be certain, shall look forward to hearing how the cabbage fare.

[Jacob Lockcuff]

Thanks, Charles. Of course, some winters are milder than others, but I’m trying to assume for the worst so that I’m prepared if a nasty cold front arrives, as it often will.

Throughout November and late October temperatures in the highs usually average around 40-50 and night time rarely goes below 25 (though 2013, an exceptionally cold year, did see temperatures as low as 8 degrees by early November.), and we will have warm fronts such as this throughout winter in between the cold spells. I assume that on days like this I can keep the row cover off completely and only put it on when temperatures dip below 20 at night or when heavy snowfall occurs?

[charles]

I would reckon to leave it on all the time, just pull back occasionally to weed and check plants. If you have the time, fair enough to keep removing it. Though plants probably prefer the constant, under-cover ambiance.

[Jacob Lockcuff]

Thanks Charles! I’ll keep you updated on how they’re doing. I’m also doing lettuce and spinach under cover so we’ll see how this goes.

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