Durham Cabbages

[Russell Sprout]

I have just bought some Durham cabbage plants from a local nursery.

The idea was to fill a couple of gaps in my bed that contains onions + garlic.
So I was wondering how big do these things get?
Are they a slugs playground?

The Nursery owner tells me they are as tough as old boots and will survive without any protection. Just keep harvesting the leaves untill the heart comes.

Do I need to do owt with em or just leave em?

Cheers in advance.

I am off outside to try and knock up a cold frame out of left over decking boards. So apologies if I dont reply immediately.

[piskieinboots]

He is correct, spring cabbages are 'ard lads - just keep cutting the leaves, how big the heart gets I guess is up to how much you keep cutting

Last year I planted a fair amount of these and they didn't really heart up cos I never gave 'em chance - this year's crop is in and growing well, I am already harvesting from them

[Snadger]

As has already been said, Durham Early are a hardy old favourite !I plant them quite close together (9 inches) and harvest the leaves off every second one and allow half to come to fruition, sometimes as late as May in these parts!

[Two_Sheds]

Just keep harvesting the leaves untill the heart comes.

If you keep picking the leaves off, you won't get a heart. Do like wot Snadger says ... let every other one heart up

[Russell Sprout]

Thanks for responses.

I have put them in rows of 3 so once they get going, if I harvest the middle ones that should give the outers some room.

Cheers

[Safhyre]

Thought I would jump in this one to ask an question in relation to the responses...

When ish do you start harvesting the leaves, my cabbages have been in the ground about 7 weeks now....they are growing and surviving the naff weather we've been having