I feel like seeds are really temperamental sometimes XD We had decent luck with some creeping thyme that basically got thrown at the ground (J did attempt to plant it as per instructions but the seeds were microscopic and blew away in the wind and then when he tried gently watering them in they probably flooded out of the tiny trench and scattered everywhere).

I've had bad luck with the Swan River Daisies I planted recently (I think two might have come up out of the entire seed packet, I'm worried I might have planted them a bit too deep, think I'll try again with another batch just kind of rubbing them into the soil instead of making a little trench for them) and the chicken foraging mix (though I suspect at least one of the chickens is managing to get its head through the chicken wire to eat them if there aren't some insects doing likewise from within the protected zone).

I keep reading that marigolds and strong smelling herbs are good at distracting pests, maybe try that next to your cabbages? Haven't experimented with that yet as we're so far behind with everything :S