Lettuce vs Cabbage: Heads Leaves plus Season
Lettuce vs cabbage comes down to head form plus season length. University of Illinois Extension lists five lettuce types, from loose leaf to crisphead, all thriving at 60 to 70 F. University of Minnesota Extension notes cabbage, a mustard family crop, forms round, flattened or pointed heads of tightly wrapped leaves over 60 to 100 days.
The short answer
Lettuce grows loose leaves or soft heads quickly when daily temperatures average 60 to 70 F plus bolts in summer heat. Cabbage forms dense heads of tightly wrapped leaves over 60 to 110 days plus tolerates below freezing temperatures late in growth. Both are cool season crops, but cabbage needs more room plus a longer season.
How do lettuce and cabbage heads differ?
University of Illinois Extension notes leaf lettuce produces crisp leaves loosely arranged on the stalk, while butterhead forms small loose heads with soft leaves plus crisphead forms the firmest heads. University of Minnesota Extension notes cabbage heads are leaves wrapped tightly around a short, thick core.
| Trait | Lettuce | Cabbage |
|---|---|---|
| Head form | Loose leaves or soft to firm heads | Tight round, flat or pointed heads |
| Ideal temperature | Average 60 to 70 F daily | Cool weather |
| Cold | Fairly hardy | Tolerates below freezing late in growth |
| Spacing | 4 to 12 inches by type | 15 to 18 inches |
| Succession | Sow every 10 to 14 days | One main crop per season |
| Main problem | Bolting in heat | Split heads |
Source: University of Illinois Extension, University of Minnesota Extension plus UF/IFAS.
Which takes more room?
Cabbage. University of Minnesota Extension suggests setting cabbage seedlings 15 to 18 inches apart. University of Illinois Extension suggests thinning leaf lettuce to 4 inches, Cos or butterhead to 6 to 8 inches plus transplanting crisphead 10 to 12 inches apart. Lettuce rows can sit 12 to 18 inches apart.
Which takes longer to grow?
Cabbage. University of Minnesota Extension notes cabbage takes 60 to 100 days, plus direct seeded cabbage takes up to three weeks longer than transplants. UF/IFAS gives 85 to 110 days from seed for heading cabbage. University of Illinois Extension suggests lettuce sowings 10 to 14 days apart for a continuous supply.
How to: step by step
- Sow lettuce in early spring or late summer.
- Start spring cabbage inside.
- Space lettuce 4 to 12 inches by type.
- Space cabbage 15 to 18 inches apart.
- Harvest lettuce before summer heat.
- Cut cabbage heads above the outer leaves at usable size.
Troubleshooting
Wrong spacing: plant size differs. Give cabbage 15 to 18 inches plus lettuce 4 to 12 inches.
Lettuce bolts early: heat. University of Illinois Extension notes some varieties tolerate heat better.
Cabbage heads split: heavy rain on mature heads. University of Minnesota Extension suggests a quarter turn of the head.
For related reading see cannabis leaf anatomy, frost damage on cannabis plus raised beds for cannabis. Kind Seed Co also stocks cannabis seeds.
Sources
- Lettuce, University of Illinois Extension
- Growing cabbage in home gardens, University of Minnesota Extension
- Cabbage, UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions
FAQ
Can lettuce and cabbage grow together?
Yes, as both are cool season crops. University of Illinois Extension notes lettuce thrives at average daily temperatures of 60 to 70 F plus suits early spring or late summer sowing. University of Minnesota Extension notes cabbage grows most vigorously in cool weather. Give cabbage 15 to 18 inches so it does not shade lettuce.
Which tolerates frost better?
Cabbage. University of Minnesota Extension notes cabbage tolerates below freezing temperatures late in growth, though seedlings are sensitive to frost. University of Illinois Extension calls lettuce a fairly hardy, cool weather crop. UF/IFAS notes cold will not kill cabbage plants but frost can damage leaves, so frost cloth helps when temperatures drop.
Why did my cabbage split?
University of Minnesota Extension notes mature heads can split before harvest, plus heavy rain can cause splitting. It suggests twisting the head a quarter turn or cutting one side of the roots with a spade to reduce water flow into the head. Some varieties suited to field holding are less likely to split.
How do I stop lettuce from bolting?
Plant on time. University of Illinois Extension notes that at high temperatures growth is stunted plus the seedstalk forms quickly, though some varieties handle heat better than others. University of Illinois Extension suggests finishing spring planting at least a month before hot early summer days, with late summer sowings maturing in cool fall weather.
When should cabbage be planted?
University of Minnesota Extension suggests starting cabbage indoors for a spring planting plus summer harvest. For a fall crop in Minnesota, it suggests direct seeding in early July so heads form as summer turns to fall plus are ready before a hard freeze. Plant where cabbage relatives have not grown for four years.
