Cabbages have been part of our staple diet for thousands of years and belong to the genus, Brassica. Other members of the Brassica family include root crops including Turnips, Swedes and other leafy vegetables such as Broccoli, Kale and Cauliflower.
Highly regarded for their nutritional value, cabbages and other Brassicas are a common crop in the average vegetable plot. The reason for this is perhaps that cabbages are reasonably easy to grow and if you select varieties carefully and have the space needed you can yield a cabbage crop all year round.
Types of Cabbage
Spring cabbages
Spring Cabbages are generally conical in shape, much smaller than Winter and Summer Cabbages and provide a crop of spring greens when planted early in the autumn and cut in early spring time. Some of the more popular Spring Cabbage varieties include;
Offenham 2 'Flower of Spring' - This variety is large, solid and very weather hardy
April - The conical shape April is a reliable and compact Spring Cabbage
Durham Early - A popular source of spring greens, the Durham Early is conical in shape, dark green in colour and produces medium sized heads that mature early.
Summer Cabbages
Typically ball-headed (although some are conical in shape), summer cabbages are those that mature during the summer or autumn months. When growing summer cabbages you would usually sow the seeds outdoors around April time, transplant them in May and cut them in August, however some early varieties can be grown under cloches during early Mach and transplanted in April.
Greyhound - The Greyhound is a very popular early summer cabbage with compact conical heads that mature quickly.
Minicole - A summer cabbage that is growing in popularity. The Minicole is an F1 hybrid with small oval heads and is capable of standing for around 3 months without splitting.
Golden Acre (Primo) - Perhaps the favourite of all summer cabbages the compact and ball-headed Golden Acre is firm and a popular choice amongst first time growers.
Hispi - The Hispi is similar in shape and colour to the Greyhound but more recent in origin.
Winter Cabbages
Generally ball or drum- headed, winter cabbages mature during the winter months and are typically green or white in colour. Many of the white varieties are popular for use in cooking as they are suitable for immediate use and make a great coleslaw cabbage. Sow in May, transplant in July, cut in November and store for months - perfect for the kitchen gardener!
January King - Often mistaken for a Savoy cabbage the January King is easily identifiable due to the red tinges of colour on its leaves.
Holland Late Winter - An old classic, the Holland Late Winter is a great choice if you want a cabbage for coleslaw and for storing.
Celtic - The Celtic is a popular F1 hybrid of a Savoy and winter cabbage that is very hardy and capable of standing for months without splitting. The Celtic is recognisable for its ball head and blue green colour.
Savoy Cabbages
Savoy Cabbages are often grown in much the same way as winter varieties but are more recognisable due to their puckered and crisp leaves that are typically dark green in colour. Common varieties include;
Savoy King - The king of all Savoy's, this F1 hybrid has bright green leaves and large heads and if sown early enough will provide a crop during September.
Best of all - This cabbage reaches maturity around September time and is a large drum-headed variety that has become very much a standard choice amongst UK gardeners.
Ormskirk Late - With large heads and dark green leaves the Ormskirk Late is an old favourite amongst cabbage growers and matures quite late in February or March.
Red Cabbages
Red cabbages are very popular elsewhere in Europe but had not really taken of in UK gardens despite the fact that we buy numerous jars of red pickled cabbage from the supermarket. Follow growth pattern of summer cabbages and cut in early autumn for cooking or late autumn for winter storage.
Red Drumhead - The red drumhead is a firm favourite and has dark red hearts that are compact enough to make this cabbage suitable for growth in smaller vegetable plots.
Kalibos - The Kalibos is an East European cabbage with sweet pointed hearts that are rich in nutrients such as vitamin C.
Rodeo - The Rodeo is a high quality red cabbage with medium sized heads that can be sown between January and March. The Rodeo is an excellent source of Vitamin C and holds well in the ground extending the harvest period from July to December.
Chinese Cabbages
The tall and cylindrical Chinese cabbage varieties are commonly seen in our supermarkets but are not as popular in our gardens. Unlike other cabbage varieties Chinese cabbages require different cultivation techniques. Chinese cabbages should be sown in 4 inch spaces in drills around 1ft apart with approximately the same distance between plants. Some of the more popular Chinese cabbage varieties are;
Tip Top - Tip Tops are quite large and should be sown in July.
Kasumi - The Kasumi is reasonably bolt resistant therefore a reliable option if you are looking to grow Chinese cabbages.
Preparing Your Plot
Once you have decided which type and variety of cabbage you want to grow it is time to prepare the plot. Choose a reasonably sunny position in an area where you have not previously grown a vegetable from the Brassica family. As cabbages prefer well-consolidated non-acidic soil so dig in some compost, manure or lime if needed a few months before planting and be sure to tread down the soil before sowing the cabbage crop.
Sowing and Planting Cabbage Seeds
Like most Brassicas, cabbage seeds need to be planted in seed beds first and then be moved or transplanted to a site where you want them to mature. With cabbages you need to ensure that you sown the seeds thinly to help reduce thinning in the future and to minimise the risk from potential pests. Typically cabbage seeds should be sown about 1.5 cm (1/2 inch) deep, in rows that are 15cm (6in) apart.
After germination re-spread the seedlings until there is approximately 7.5cm (3in) between each plant and once they reach somewhere between 6cm - 8cm (2-3 inches) tall they are ready for transplanting. The days before you plan to transplant your cabbage seeds water them thoroughly, and continue to water until they are established in their new homes.
The plants should be spaced according to the instructions on the seed packet but typically you should leave 1ft between plants if the cabbage variety is compact in size and about 1.5ft for larger varieties. Don't worry if you do not have the space to sow all your cabbage seeds at once as stored seed should last for around 4 years.
Looking after the crop
Cabbages during the growth stages are relatively easy to care for and with a little bit of TLC your crop should come through unharmed. There are however, a few things to look out for whilst your cabbages are in the ground. Firstly, cabbages like other Brassicas are a firm favourite with birds so ensure that you protect your cabbages seeds and seedlings from our little feathered friends. Most online garden centres will be able to provide you with protective netting and mesh to help keep the birds away or alternatively try using protective discs.
If the weather is particularly dry and hot then ensure that you apply some liquid feed and water where needed, however do not over water and allow the ground to become to soggy as cabbages prefer consolidated soil where possible. Over-watering or acidic soil could also lead to the onset of fatal diseases such as Club Root which is discussed in more detail below.
Another important point to mention when growing cabbages (or other Brassicas) is that you should never grow cabbages in the same area for more than one year at a time. This is because it helps to avoid the build up of pests and diseases which like all vegetables, cabbages can be subject to attack from. Some of the most common include;
Club Roots - Unfortunately this fungal disease can be particularly nasty with cabbages and causes the roots of the plants to become stubby and swollen whilst the leaves will discolour and wilt in the heat. During the wet season, when the disease is most rife, wet rot may set in and the cabbages will slow in growth or even die. Sadly there is no treatment for Club Root so if you find yourself with infected plants you should remove them from the ground and burn them immediately. Be careful not to plant any further crops from the Brassica family in the same area for a few years after a club root outbreak as the likelihood is that these plants will contract the disease too.
Cabbage Caterpillars - If you suddenly find that all your cabbage leaves have holes in then the likelihood is that you have a problem with Cabbage Caterpillars. The moths that are responsible for the caterpillars tend to lay their eggs deep in the hearts of the cabbages and are most prevalent during the summer months. By inspecting your crop regularly for signs of their presence you should be able to remove any eggs before they hatch but should you need to treat an outbreak try spraying with pyrethrin, or thiacloprid as soon as you can.
Cabbage Whitefly - Recent years have seen more and more outbreaks of these tiny white moths who feed alongside their larvae on the underside of cabbage and other Brassica leaves. Evidence that you have a Whitefly infestation will be weak plants with sooty moulds and the adult flies will take to the air should you disturb the plant. There is no real method of preventing an outbreak of Cabbage Whitefly but you can treat it using pyrethrin.
Cabbage Root Fly - Plants that have only been transplanted recently are at particular risk from root fly and victims can be recognised through the blue tingeing of leaves that wilting in warm weather. Young plants are likely to die once infected but older plants will appear to grow much slower with some cabbages failing to heart at all. Treatment is possible by the application of a nematode-based insecticide after planting or by protecting young plants with fine protective netting.
Harvesting Your Cabbage Crop
The time to harvest your cabbage crop will depend entirely on the variety of cabbage you are growing. Summer cabbages should be ready to cut from July where as winter and spring varieties will be ready from October. Cabbages can be harvested using a sharp knife to 'cut' the crop away from the ground and in most cases will be suitable for immediate use.
Red and winter varieties however can be cut and stored over the winter period by removing the roots and stem and storing in a cool dry place. With spring cabbages it is possible to yield a crop of Spring Greens by thinning the cabbage rows around March and using the young plants for dinner whilst leaving the remaining plants to mature until harvesting in April or May.
This Guide was brought to you by Plant Me Now, one of the UK's leading online garden centre for garden supplies, garden equipment and of course cabbage seeds!
