Cabbage
This is a great, cheap, green vegetable. It keeps well and can provide a range of vitamins for good health.
There are three distinct cabbage types. Conical form with a ‘pointed’ top to the heart, rounded cabbage and Savoy cabbage which is quite wrinkly.
Generally this is seed sowing or plant buying. People will have specific or other ideas. Best advice is to try a few different ones out and keep a record of the types that do best for you and have the right flavours and texture you are looking for.
In the home garden it is best not to grow too many of the same type all at once. Planting needs to be staggered for a steady supply.
One option is to sow 2 seeds in each cell of a 6 cell punnet. (See Image). Not every seed will grow so having 2 seeds per cell will give you more than 6 plants and they will be easily divided when it’s time to plant them out. Keep them well watered and use some slug bait or similar to prevent them being eaten.
While the seeds are growing prepare the ground for the plants ensuing it has compost and nutrients in it.
Planting the growing plants is interesting as often people plant them too far apart or too close together.
Generally planted too far apart will lead to much larger cabbages. While too close together they don’t grow very well. Research suggests that about 30 cm x 60cm is about right for a good crop but not the heads not so big as to be wasted. Mind though you can always give half of one away.
Plant in two rows at this spacing and then leave a wider gap between the next planting.
Keep weed free to reduce competition for nutrients.
Watch out for the following pests
Cabbages keep well in the fridge even if cut in half. If there is too much give some away as you will have more coming on.
There are three distinct cabbage types. Conical form with a ‘pointed’ top to the heart, rounded cabbage and Savoy cabbage which is quite wrinkly.
Generally this is seed sowing or plant buying. People will have specific or other ideas. Best advice is to try a few different ones out and keep a record of the types that do best for you and have the right flavours and texture you are looking for.
- Conical cabbage are generally sown in January and February to produce heads in spring.
- Rounded cabbage are generally sown in spring for to produce heads in summer but with choosing the right ones this type can be grown for year round use.
- Savoy Cabbage are sown in November to January for winter heads.
- Red Cabbage are a long term crop. Sow in autumn, plant out when a good size and let them grow right through to harvest at the end of summer or autumn.
In the home garden it is best not to grow too many of the same type all at once. Planting needs to be staggered for a steady supply.
One option is to sow 2 seeds in each cell of a 6 cell punnet. (See Image). Not every seed will grow so having 2 seeds per cell will give you more than 6 plants and they will be easily divided when it’s time to plant them out. Keep them well watered and use some slug bait or similar to prevent them being eaten.
While the seeds are growing prepare the ground for the plants ensuing it has compost and nutrients in it.
Planting the growing plants is interesting as often people plant them too far apart or too close together.
Generally planted too far apart will lead to much larger cabbages. While too close together they don’t grow very well. Research suggests that about 30 cm x 60cm is about right for a good crop but not the heads not so big as to be wasted. Mind though you can always give half of one away.
Plant in two rows at this spacing and then leave a wider gap between the next planting.
Keep weed free to reduce competition for nutrients.
Watch out for the following pests
- Slugs Use slug pellets or an organic option
- Caterpillars. Use an insect spray or organic option. If white butterflies are still around try covering the plants with frost cloth.
- Aphids. Use and insect spray or organic option.
Cabbages keep well in the fridge even if cut in half. If there is too much give some away as you will have more coming on.