Friday, March 29, 2024
Cabbage likely was domesticated in Europe before 1000 BC. Cabbage came over to America with the first settlers. Today there are 3 different types of cabbages-heading, conical, and loose. They also come in shades of red, purple and green. I do love the blue green color and crinkly leaves of savoy cabbage. Even the ornamental cabbage you see in the fall are not only beautiful, but also edible.
Cabbage contains beta-carotene, vitamin C, and fiber. Cabbage has been shown to reduce the risk of colorectal cancers. Purple cabbage also has anthocyanins which have been proven in other vegetables to have anti-cancer properties. Raw cabbage nutritional data.
Cabbage is a member of the brassica family. They all enjoy cool weather and are biennials. They are grown as an annual. They produce a head the first year that is harvested and we eat. If the head is not harvested, the plant will flower the second year. Both the leaves and head of the plant is edible.
Cabbage can be grown for spring, fall, or winter harvest. They are sown a season prior to when you want to harvest them. For spring, sow seeds in August or buy fast maturing types and start in early spring. the mini cabbages mature in 45 days and there are many varieties to choose from, including transplants from big box stores and nurseries. For fall and winter, sow seeds in June/July. For fall/winter transplants, you will plant in the garden when the weather begins to cool. You just pick the longer maturing date types for winter harvests.
A spring edible garden A fall edible garden |
| Fall savoy cabbage |
If you don't plant in August and still want cabbage in the spring, chose types with short maturity dates and plant very early in the spring. You want the cabbage to produce a head before the heat of summer. Cabbage is easy to start from seed indoors. Early April or when the crocus blooms is a good time to plant for spring harvests.
Late storage types will keep up to 6 months if properly stored at around 32 degrees and high humidity.
Cabbages like a rich, organic soil with a pH of 6.5-6.8. Place in a location that gets full sun to slight shade, 18-24" apart. or grow in pots. Since cabbage is a 'leaf crop", nitrogen is important. Take a soil test to see what you need to add or use a balanced fertilizer at planting and a liquid fertilizer when the head begins for form. Maintain consistent moisture through the growing season during dry spells.
Be sure to rotate plantings to minimize pests. You do not want to plant any broccoli, cauliflower or cabbage in the same spot for at least 2 years as they share the same pests. Ideal rotation is every 4 years. Crop rotation made easy for small gardens
The biggest pest for cabbage are slugs, cabbage worms and cabbage loopers. If you see those pretty, pale yellow moths flitting around your garden, these are the cabbage moths. You can avoid them by planting early enough in the spring that you are harvesting before temperatures are consistently in the 80's and wait to plant transplants after the weather has cooled down in the fall. Otherwise, you can spray with bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), an organic spray that is only harmful to the caterpillars, at the first sign of leaf damage. Bt needs to be reapplied after a rain or every 7 days to be effective. It's easiest to just grow during the cool weather when cabbage worms and loopers are not active.
There are many types of cabbage, from super large storage types to mini cabbages that are great for pots, to the leafy types that are good for steaming or salads. I am growing a Chinese cabbage, Hilton, that is great to use for wraps or salads. It has a very mild flavor. It is a staple in my garden year round.
For preserving cabbage, you will need to blanch before freezing. There is always sauerkraut as well that is pretty easy to make. How to preserve cabbage.
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| Potted mini cabbage in spring |
The biggest pest for cabbage are slugs, cabbage worms and cabbage loopers. If you see those pretty, pale yellow moths flitting around your garden, these are the cabbage moths. You can avoid them by planting early enough in the spring that you are harvesting before temperatures are consistently in the 80's and wait to plant transplants after the weather has cooled down in the fall. Otherwise, you can spray with bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), an organic spray that is only harmful to the caterpillars, at the first sign of leaf damage. Bt needs to be reapplied after a rain or every 7 days to be effective. It's easiest to just grow during the cool weather when cabbage worms and loopers are not active.
There are many types of cabbage, from super large storage types to mini cabbages that are great for pots, to the leafy types that are good for steaming or salads. I am growing a Chinese cabbage, Hilton, that is great to use for wraps or salads. It has a very mild flavor. It is a staple in my garden year round.
For preserving cabbage, you will need to blanch before freezing. There is always sauerkraut as well that is pretty easy to make. How to preserve cabbage.
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