Savoy cabbage is the hardiest of all and some varieties withstand coldest winters.
Planted out in early July, harvested October to March according to variety. Wrinkled
leaves, good for coleslaw.
Savoy hybrids are crosses between savoy and white cabbages. Very hardy.
January King leaves are normally slightly crinkly and purplish, and are very tasty.
Planted out in early June, mature by November/December.
Red cabbage is normally eaten either raw or pickled; if cooked it takes much longer
than other cabbages, up to 2 hours boiling. Harvested in October/November, for
winter storage if needed.
Cabbage leaves are a good source of vitamins A, C, B1, B2, B3 and D; in hard
times they can also be useful in providing bulk to the diet. Cabbage is also high in
potassium and calcium but loses most of these nutrients when the leaves are cooked.
However pickling does not destroy Vitamin C—Captain Cook insisted that his crew
stayed healthy due to a daily intake of sauerkraut.
Collecting seed from Brassica plants is not worthwhile as they all readily cross-
pollinate and the hybridised offspring are often useless, so you need to buy fresh
seed every year or use the previous years purchased seed if it was well stored and
still germinates vigorously. A large range of varieties of all of the cabbage types
listed above are available from commercial seed suppliers, each one adapted to grow
in particular conditions. Hybrid seed of Brassicas has so far had only limited
success.
Unless otherwise stated, the account below refers to the Common (or “Head”)
Cabbage, Brassica oleracea var. capitata.
PLANTING
Propagation: by seed (not home-grown—see above), normally planted in boxes or
nurseries then transplanted when about 15 cm tall, at about 1–2 months. At the time
they are being planted out many people dip the roots in a bucket containing thin mud
and a little lime.
Germination: viability of the seed rapidly diminishes in hot and/or humid
conditions. Germination is normally quite fast, in 3–6 days.
Soil: cabbages need rich, fertile and well drained soils. Sandy loams are ideal. They
like plenty of manure, but lime may be needed in more acidic soils (or plant
cabbages after a legume). Clubroot disease is more prevalent in acidic soils. Both
yield and quality are increased with compound fertilisers provided that the Nitrogen
level is not too high, but cabbages should not need any. The soil should be firmly
compacted around the transplanted plants.
Seed rate: 3.5–5 kg/ha. There are about 300–375,000 seeds per kg.
Depth: 0.5–2 cm
Plant spacing: either in a 35–50 cm square grid or 50–70 cm between rows and
40 60 cm between plants. Fast growing crops such as lettuce or French beans can –
be interplanted. They are sun plants and so prefer an open, unshaded position.