Brassica oleracea, Capitata Group
Family: Brassicaceae

Native to southern Europe, this leafy vegetable has been cultivated for many centuries and is believed to be a descendant of the coastal European sea or wild cabbage. Although a biennial, it is treated as an annual when cultivated in the garden. The mature head of this familiar vegetable is used extensively in salads, as a vegetable accompaniment to main meals, such as corned beef, or for pickling. It provides Vitamins A, B and C, as well as minerals, calcium and iron, and was thought by the Greeks to be a cure for hangovers.

Varieties

Spring cabbages (early cabbages) have small, pointed or rounded heads. They may also be loose-leaved and harvested as 'spring greens'. The summer cabbages (mid-season cabbages) have large, rounded heads, as do the autumn cabbages (late cabbages). The latter include red cabbages, which are often used for pickling and salads. Winter cabbages (late cabbages) also have large, rounded heads. There are two types: those that are used fresh are known as Savoys and have wrinkled leaves, while the smooth, white-leaved cultivars are grown for storage. There are many cultivars of all of these types and seed catalogues should list a good selection.

Cultivation

Although reasonably easy to grow, it is very important to sow and plant cabbages at the correct time, according to type. Spring cabbages, those for harvesting (luring the spring, are sown in late summer through to early autumn. They are planted out 23 cm (9 in) apart in rows spaced 30 cm (12 in) apart. Cabbages for cropping in early summer are sown in late winter through to early spring. The young plants are planted out 38 cm (15 in) apart each way. Summer cabbages, grown for the main summer crop, are sown in early to mid-spring. They are also planted 38 cm (15 in) apart each way. Cabbages for autumn cropping should be sown in late spring or early summer. Their spacing is 38 cm (15 in). Winter cabbages, which are the hardiest, are sown in the period late spring to early summer. They need more space and therefore young plants are set out 45 cm (18 in) apart each way. In warm climates cabbages are often grown as a winter or spring crop during the cool season.Seed of all cabbages can be sown in cell trays under glass, or into an outdoor seed bed. The seedlings should be planted out when they are about 8 cm (3 in) high. Cabbages like an alkaline soil and this also helps to protect the plants from clubroot disease. Therefore lime the site for cabbages after winter digging if the soil is acid. Apply a balanced general-purpose fertilizer before planting. Cabbages should be kept well watered as necessary in spring and summer. Unfortunately cabbages are prone to several serious pests and diseases such as root maggots and club-root disease, so to help prevent a build up of these in the soil it is necessary to grow cabbages in rotation with other crops, never growing them on the same piece of ground more than once in every three years. Do not delay harvesting for too long or the heads may split open and generally deteriorate.

Climate

Cabbages are not very hardy and are suited to Zones 8 and 9. They are grown as seasonal annuals or biennials. In cold climates, summer and autumn cabbages are the best ones to attempt.