Cabbage - Winter

Type: Vegetable

Rotation Group: 4, Brassicas


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FILDERKRAUT

If you like your cabbages big, look no further than this German beauty! The thin tender leaves are THE variety for shredding in salads, coleslaws or for sauerkraut, individual heads can reach up to 10lb.
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MINICOLE

Autumn/Winter Cutting (Ball-Head) - Very popular because the rather small, oval heads stand in good condition for 12 weeks or more with no deterioration. Even better, it has a good flavour and is a good choice for smaller gardens or where space is limited.

Site, Soil and Preparation

Cabbages like a fertile, well draining, moisture retentive, firm soil. The main crop beds should be dug over and firmed a few months before planting.

Indoor Sowing

Winter Cabbage, sown May for cutting November onwards. Cabbage can be started off in growing cells or seed trays under cover.

Outdoor Sowing

Cabbage seed can be sown directly into a seed bed.

Thinning

Seeds should be sown thinly and thinned out to 3 inches as they develop. Germination usually takes 7 to 14 days.

Transplanting

Seedlings are ready for transplanting when they have 5 or 6 leaves. Use a dibber to make a hole large enough to accommodate the root ball and firm the soil around the plant. Spacing between plants varies, for compact heads space at 30cm, for large heads allow 45cm and leave just 15cm between spring cabbage to encourage their conical shape.

Care

Keep the young plants weed free and well watered until established and then only water during dry periods.

Harvest

Cabbages are harvested by cutting through the stem just above ground level with a sharp knife.