Spring Cabbage/Spring Greens

[Cessemp]

Hello
This is my first posting as I'n new to the Forum. I bought some Spring Cabbage plants at the market on Saturday and I was told by the stall holder that they could be dual purpose. Does this mean that for Spring Greens I can take off a few leaves at a time when I fancy eating them and I can choose to leave a couple to mature into fully formed pointed Spring Cabbages?
I'm a novice with the brassicas - my only previous experience with brassicas was when I grew some Cavolo Nero and my 'helpful' (now 'ex'! ) brother-in-law pulled them up when he decided the garden looked untidy!!!
Am hoping for good things from my Spring Cabbages. Any advice?

[Shadylane]

Yes, I believe you can.

[Two_Sheds]

My advice is: protect them from slugs and pigeons, or there'll be nowt left for you

[Snadger]

What I do is plant them quite close together, say, one foot apart. Use every second plant for greens and allow the others to heart up with the added bit of room!

[Alison]

Mine are planted at half spacing to pull the first lot up as greens and leave the remaining ones (by then at proper spacing) for eating as real cabbages. That's the plan anyway.

[Cessemp]

Thanks for the advice folks. I particularly like the idea of spacing them out so that they alternate between greens & real cabbages. I will be vigilant re those pesky wood pigeons that visit my garden. I've been itching to grow something since the beans and the toms ran out a few weeks ago and now I have the cabbages and salad leaves to enjoy. Anyone got any thoughts on what else could I plant to keep my enthusiasm going going during the winter?

[Bex]

Anyone got any thoughts on what else could I plant to keep my enthusiasm going going during the winter?

You could try some onion sets, garlic and some peas

[Cessemp]

Thanks, Bex. Any other ideas from anyone?

[oliveoyl]

Broad beans, fruit bushes and trees all can go in now... rhubarb crowns shortly.