Cabbage - Winter
Type: Vegetable
Rotation Group: 4, Brassicas
 | | FILDERKRAUTIf 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. |
 | | MINICOLEAutumn/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.
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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.