Water the bed the previous day before removing them to their permanent position. The seedlings are ready to plant out when they are about 10cm(4") to 15cm(6") tall. This is to stop overcrowding thus causing the seedlings to become weak and spindly. When the cabbage plants are about 2.5cm(1") tall, thin the seedlings to about 7.5cm(3") apart in the rows. Keep the seed bed moist, always use a fine spray. Mark both ends of the row, labelling one end with the variety and date of sowing. Sow the seed thinly into the drills and cover them over with soil, lightly firming with the back of the rake. ![]() Mark out the rows using string stretched between two stakes for a straight line and make shallow drills along the length of the string with a trowel or the edge of a hoe 13mm(1/2") deep and rows 15cm(6") apart. I will further thin them out and my wife will use the thinnings as 'greens' - they will be delicious. These spring cabbage were planted in October, photo taken in February and the cabbages will be ready in a few weeks. but only when the soil is dry enough i.e. If you only require a few plants then this need not be too big an area.Ĭover the bed with sifted mature compost if you have some - the bed may be small enough to purchase a bag or two from your garden centre, especially if you're just beginning your adventure in growing cabbage, you might not have the organic matter to compost.įirm the bed by tamping the surface with the back of your rake. In early spring rake over and level the area you have chosen as a seed bed - frosts will have done a lot of the work for you by then. Tread the soil down gently then rake over and remove any surface rubbish. use your imagination.ĭon't fork over the surface before planting. If cabbage root fly is a problem (see photo left) use protective discs around the base of the plants so the flies can't lay their eggs - purchase them from garden centers or make your own from roofing felt, old carpet or underlay. remember these cabbages are growing through the winter. Don't apply it when growing cabbage like spring cabbages though, as this variety needs to be grown slowly in a sheltered spot. Don't dig up those pea and bean roots as they contain lots of usefull nitrogen that plants require.Ībout a week before planting apply a general fertiliser like Growmore. If you didn't, then feed the soil as described above. If you can, use a site where peas and beans (Legumes) where grown the previous year, if you dug in manure or compost for them then no more is required. Pick a reasonably sunny spot for the site where you are growing cabbages. If the soil is acid then apply lime during the preparation, acid soil discourages growth and encourages that dreaded affliction of brassicas, club root. Like all brassica varieties dig in plenty of well rotted manure or compost in the autumn - don't dig in the manure close to planting time. Varieties will fall neatly into one of the three major groups - spring,Ĭabbages do best in a reasonably firm soil, so leave it for several months between digging and planting. Instructions on growing cabbage and planting specific vegetable typesĪnd varieties, you will find them very useful. You will find a host of these newer varieties in the many seedĬatalogues that you can have delivered to your door free. a definite entry into your - 'Growing Cabbage' - note book. But even if you still find cabbage overpowering you can grow the mild Chinese cabbage varieties. In the case of modern cabbage plant flavours - less is indeed more. Winter cabbages, savoys and those tough spring greens which hauntedīut over the past thirty years there have been remarkable improvements with cabbages as the newer varieties are more delicate in flavour. Older generations may still remember the terrible taste and smell of Growing cabbage can still suffer undeservedly from its past reputation. talk about tradition, my children would riot if they didn't get one when they visited. Or, I like growing cabbage varieties which I can sow in the spring so my wife Ros can make her delicious coleslaw or grate some into a salad during the summer and, of course, continue having it with your Sunday roast, I still love my Sunday roast. I like to sow cabbage seed in the autumn so I can lift them in the spring and enjoy fresh vegetables at a time when there may be few about. ![]() ![]() Most of us though, tend to be more selective about which cabbage we want to plant in our vegetable garden or when we want to harvest them. Remember to note that when following the instructions below on planting cabbages - the terms spring, summer and winter refer to the season that the cabbage is harvested in.
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