Cabbage plants

Hi I would like to start cabbage plants in April. Anyone know where I can get them that early? I planted late last year. I had a good crop, but it was a war with bugs. My father told me to plant them earlier. Anyone know?? Also, broccoli plants. Thanks, Julie

I know our local Lowe's sells cabbage and broccoli plants, but I don't know when they are in the store for sale. I did try some plants from them a couple of years ago, but they did not grow. I much prefer growing broccoli from seeds started indoors under lights - cheaper, too!

Cabbages like cool weather.
I had bad luck growing them in the spring. It took long time, full of bugs and they bolted instead to make the cabbage head.
I grow them in the fall. Here in my zone I plant them in early september. They grow beautifully, just a few pests and no hussle.
I grow mine from seeds.

Our local hardware store just put out the broc & other spring loving plants. I trust them more than the big box stores on timing for my garden.

I expect that Kentucky like most of the south is dominated by Bonnie Plant Farms. If so you will be getting the same plants no matter where you buy them locally. They offer a half dozen varieties of cabbage but only Packman for Broccoli. Mine do better in spring planting than fall especially cabbage. Broccoli does well in the fall, larger heads, but sideshoot production is severely curtailed. I use Bt so no problems with worms or loopers. They are about the only insects that are a major problem here.

Cathy4,
Trust NO one, especially the stores that set plants out for sale...usually at the wrong time so you can plant them, fail, and come back for more...

Juliep127,
This one's for you. Very first cabbage I grew, when I was an UberNewbie, and didn't know what I was doing. Grew it for almost NINE months to the day the Bonnie seedling was set out into the garden at the end of May (entirely wrong time to put a cabbage out before the Texas heat!!!).

This is my baby...not ONE worm or bug hole on the entire plant! ^^_^^

You can look for a local nursery that starts it's own plants. Bonnie dominates all the big stores but privately owned nurseries often have a better selection and you're supporting the family business.

Farmerdill, What is Bt? Excuse my ignorance... lol

I planted my cabbage during a heat wave last year. I really couldn't believe they did so well all of my plants produced!! I had problems with worms. Any suggestions with that too?!!! Julie :)

Here's a link to a Dave's Garden article on Bt: