grow | cabbage
By MEREDITH KIRTON
Cabbages have to be one of the most versatile cold season vegetables. They can be eaten raw, stir-fried, pickled, boiled and have been used in traditional cuisines right across Asia, Eastern and Northern Europe; German food wouldn’t be the same without Sauerkraut and who can imagine a spring roll without cabbage!
Their tolerance to cold makes them an invaluable winter crop, and they are certainly one of the more beautiful looking vegetables with fine bone Wedgewood china made into its image as the popular Majolica setting. Few things are as perfect as a well grown Savoy or beautiful red cabbage.
To grow them in your garden, first lime the soil and dig in some blood and bone. A month later, hopefully coinciding with late summer/early autumn rains, you are ready to plant out seedlings. The cabbage will take about 5 months to grow into maturity, over which time you need to be vigilant watching for cabbage month and butterfly larvae. These grubs are most active in the warm weather, and can eat quite a bit of your crop if let go unchecked. Pick them off as soon as you see them and try not to be tempted to grow cabbages in the warm seasons when they are more likely to be around. Many of the new varieties are also less likely to run to seed or be affected by diseases, and some of the smaller types, like ‘Sugarloaf’ are ready for harvest in only 3 months.
Photography by SUE STUBBS | Blog designed by RED PEPPER GRAPHICS
15Aug
i like it
15Aug
I planted my mini cabbages & wongbok cabbages in Winter, I am now starting to wonder if I planted them at the wrong time? I am sure the seed packet said Winter. Oh well it is all a learning experience. I will be sure to plant them at the start of Autumn next time.
The Urban Potager.
15Aug
Some cabbages can be planted later on in the season and are more tolerant to the warmer weather they will encounter later on in the season, or are fatser growing or smaller so reach harvest before the warmer weather. What you want to avoid if possible is the peak cabbage moth season, which is spring…I hope this helps.
15Aug
Thanks for your tips. The cabbages seem to be doing ok, they have taken an attack from slugs but I now have the copper tape and this seems to have stopped them in their slimy little tracks. If I get cabbage moths I think I will give the dipel a go!