Cabbage - Surprisingly Resilient Vegetable

All types of cabbage were bred from wild cabbage (Brassica oleracea). Wild cabbage is a biennial plant native to the Mediterranean. Its cultivars are collectively known as brassica vegetables or cole crops. Individual cultivars of brassica vegetables are very different at first glance. Bred cultivars of wild cabbage include headed cabbage (Brassica oleracea convar. capitata), savoy cabbage (Brassica oleracea convar. sabauda), Brussels sprouts (Brassica oleracea convar. gemmifera), marrow cabbage (Brassica oleracea convar. medullosa), fodder cabbage (Brassica oleracea convar. acephala), kohlrabi (Brassica oleracea convar. gongylodes), cauliflower (Brassica oleracea convar. botrytis) and broccoli (Brassica oleracea convar. italica).

• Savoy cabbage (Brassica oleracea convar. sabauda) is a biennial plant that forms an edible head in the first year and an inflorescence in the second year. The head is formed by spirally growing blistered and crinkled leaves with slightly lobed edges. The stem is 30-70 cm tall. The leaves are usually dark green in colour, but can also be yellow-green and in ornamental forms even yellow, red or purple. In the second year, a panicle with four-petaled cross-pollinated flowers grows through the head. The fruit is a pod containing black round seeds.

• Brussels sprouts (Brassica oleracea convar. gemmifera) was bred in the 18th century in Belgium. Its stem is 30-100 cm tall. It is covered with long-stalked obovate leaves, in whose axils small firm sprouts are formed. Flowers develop in the second year of cultivation.

• Curly kale (Brassica oleracea) does not form a head. The leaves grow in a loose rosette on a tall stem. The leaves are dark green, blistered and heavily curled. Curly kale is finest and most delicious in cooler months and tastes best after it has been through frost. The starch contained in the plant turns into sugar after the first frosts, which is why it tastes better and is more digestible. Curly kale most closely resembles the original wild species.

Cabbage has undergone many breeding processes, which is reflected in the wide range of cultivars available. Both early and late varieties are grown.

• Late varieties are more cold-resistant, some can even withstand temperatures down to -15°C without problems. Savoy cabbage has been bred, for example, in the Předzvěst variety. This is an early variety suitable for growing from pre-cultivated seedlings. It should be harvested by the end of June. The plant grows on a low stem. The heads are smaller and oval-shaped. The cabbage has yellow-green to green leaves. It is very tasty.

• Another variety of head cabbage is the head cabbage known as Raketa. This variety is designed especially for forcing in unheated foil tunnels. The plant is small, low, with a very short outer stalk. The head is also smaller, green, and light yellow on the cut.

• A medium-growing cabbage variety is Vertus 2 head cabbage. The plant is more spreading, the head is flat-spherical, firm, dark green in color with very strong bluish bloom. On the cut it is white to yellow. This is a high-yielding variety for autumn harvests.

• Brussels sprout Dolores F1 is a semi-early hybrid suitable for single harvest. The plant is tall with a medium top rosette. The sprouts are medium green, well closed, growing in rows.

• The most pleasing to the eye will be ornamental cabbage. These cabbage cultivars create interesting shape variations. They are suitable for growing in beds, for cutting and for arrangements.

• Kale is available in the Kapral variety. This is a semi-early variety intended for direct consumption. The plant is low, reaching only 40 - 60 cm in height. The leaves are dark green, blistered and heavily curled.

How to Grow Cabbage?

Cabbage thrives best in medium-heavy loamy humus soils. The optimal pH value is in the range of 6 - 7. Early varieties do well in lighter soils with sufficient nutrient supply and soil moisture. Sowing time depends on the variety grown. Sow the earliest Brussels sprout varieties in February in a greenhouse or in growing trays on a windowsill. Plant out in beds in April with spacing of approximately 40 x 50 cm. You can expect the first harvest as early as May or June. The growing season for early cabbage ranges from 50 - 70 days, for summer and semi-early varieties it is 100 - 120 days, and for autumn varieties 102 - 160 days. Plant autumn cabbage varieties in the bed no later than the end of June. You will harvest them in August and September. Winter varieties have a growing season of 240 - 250 days. They are planted in beds by the end of September and can then be harvested until January. Cabbage is a first-rotation crop, as it loves well-manured soil. Prepare the soil in autumn by incorporating farmyard manure and liming. Before planting, work nitrogen fertilizer into the soil (suitable nitrogen fertilizer). During the growing season, side-dress the cabbage with NPK fertilizer. Keep the bed weed-free during the growing season and water abundantly in summer. To help the small Brussels sprout heads develop better, you can pinch out the tops in September or October. Almost identical growing principles apply to head cabbage. Pre-grown seedlings are planted with 50 x 40 cm spacing. Heads for storage must be firm and well developed. Before snow, protect the cabbage by covering the bed with branches.

Grow Your Own Ornamental Cabbage!

The most suitable time for sowing ornamental cabbage is June to July. If sown later, there might not be enough time for the development of fully colored leaves. The soil should not be over-fertilized, as excessive fertilization and high temperatures reduce the speed and intensity of coloration. When sowing, lightly cover the seeds with sand. The germination period ranges from 5 to 10 days at a temperature of 18 - 20 °C.

About 3 - 4 weeks after sowing is the ideal time to transplant the seedlings into pots with a diameter of 9 - 13 cm. The size of the pot and the spacing between plants determine the size of the future leaf rosette. The recommended distance between plants is approximately 30 cm. When planted too closely, plants develop poorly, form small rosettes, and have deformed leaves. The rosettes begin to develop color when nighttime temperatures drop below 15 °C. Full coloration of the plants should occur during September, depending on weather conditions. When planting, make sure not to plant the seedlings at an angle, as they would then have a crooked stem and be unsuitable for cutting. During the leaf rosette coloration period, stop fertilizing the plants and partially reduce watering.

Watch Out for Diseases and Pests

Brassica vegetables are most commonly affected by pests from the sucking and chewing insect groups (cabbage aphid, pollen beetle), as well as caterpillars of the small white butterfly and large white butterfly. Clubroot or bacterial black rot of brassicas may also occur. Diseases and pests must be controlled as soon as possible; the best approach is to apply a preventive spray against sucking and chewing insects (suitable sprays), collect butterfly caterpillars manually, and remove affected leaves.

Health Benefits of Cabbage

Cabbage is a highly valued vegetable because it is one of the few types that can withstand winter in the garden bed. It tolerates temperatures down to -15°C. This vegetable is a source of many essential substances for the human body. Important is vitamin B1 - thiamine, which supports mental freshness, concentration and increases resistance to stress. Cabbage should be included in the diet especially by pregnant and breastfeeding women, smokers, regular alcohol consumers, physically active people and growing children. Another very necessary vitamin from this group is folic acid. Today, the possibilities of obtaining vitamin C in winter are almost endless, but in the past, cabbage was one of the few sources of vitamin C during the winter period. Help can be found in cabbage even with problems such as swelling, water retention in the body, gout and rheumatism. The reason is the content of potassium, which supports the excretion of excess water from the body. This helps detoxify the body and flush out waste substances. High fibre content benefits digestion. Thanks to this, cabbage acts preventively against constipation and cleanses the intestines.

Include cabbage in your diet, for example in steamed or baked form, you will surely enjoy it ;)