Cabbage Varieties

[w33blegurl]

Hi All

Just perusing the seed catalogues feeling a bit bewildered (whats new!!). Am looking to get a cabbage that will crop roughly summer-autumn and one that will crop winter-spring covering as much of the year as humanly possible! I realise I might be asking a bit much but wondere what varieties people would recommend!
Cheers!

[rustylady]

I like Hispi for a summer cabbage. Haven't really tried winter ones as there's only one of me so I grow kale which I can pick as and when I want it. Red cabbage is good though, very hardy and you can use it raw in coleslaw, or braised as a hot veg.

[Alison]

I'm growing Durham Early as a spring cabbage which I planted late summer. Have sown at half spacing so that I can pull every other plant as a spring green and leave the others to maturity. Am also going to sow some Greyhound as an early summer crop in the polytunnel (if I ever get the damned thing up!) but don't want a late summer / autumn green type ones as I'm normally inundated with beans, courgettes etc then although will probably have a few red cabbages for braising about that time (can't remember what variety I have). Over winter I'm currently cropping January King and also have some Omskirk Savoy for winter use.

[northepaul]

I have January King as a winter cabbage - they seem ok, not yet very big and I think at the rate they're going, they should be called April King

[Alison]

I have January King as a winter cabbage - they seem ok, not yet very big and I think at the rate they're going, they should be called April King

Mine are a bit on the small side too Paul as they were planted out a tad late. They won't be growing now anyway as it's too cold so yours may have got as big as they are going to.

[gojiberry]

A good summer/Autumn cabbage is kilaton, usually ready from july onwards and will stand reasonably well into winter. The added advantage it is club root resistant. For winter I would go for Celtic F1 which will stand well till April, or if you want a savoy then try ormskirk. Good luck.

Ian

[Alison]

A good summer/Autumn cabbage is kilaton, usually ready from july onwards and will stand reasonably well into winter. The added advantage it is club root resistant.

I've not grown it myself as I don't have a club root problem and avoid F1s as much as possible. Had been led to believe that it was good if you had club root but that there were much better varieties if you don't. Do you find it especially tasty?

[Storming Norman]

I'm growing April for next year - they took off like rockets when sown last August/Sept. Apparently they don't get enormous so can be grown slightly closer together.
For my winter ones I bought a try of six pre-grown savoys in August. That is enough for us with all the other winter food coming out of the plot presently [well up until last week that is].

I've seen recommendations for Hispi and Pixie from various sources and will be trying those in due course.

[jacob marley]

A good summer/Autumn cabbage is kilaton, usually ready from july onwards and will stand reasonably well into winter. The added advantage it is club root resistant. For winter I would go for Celtic F1 which will stand well till April, or if you want a savoy then try ormskirk. Good luck.

Ian

I have grown Kilaton for 2 years now they was ok in08 but last year they grew and grew the heaviest was 14 lbs in weight and they stand well into winter and taste nice as well....jacob

[Two_Sheds]

I have January King as a winter cabbage - they seem ok, not yet very big

Mine are a bit on the small side too

Mine too... in fact my Rodima red cabbage (brilliant the year before) & my kale are really really small too.

I don't think the autumn drought helped.

[w33blegurl]

Thanks for the replies....that certainly focusses my thoughts down a bit! Just need a bigger veg garden now......

[Snadger]

I have pockets of clubroot in my allotment so grow Kilaton or Kilaxy cabbage as both are resistant. I have Spring hero ball headed and Durham early pointy headed spring cabbages, some of which are growing indoors in large pots.
I grow numerous kales and this year collards as well.

Best way is just to experiment and see what you like to eat and what does well in your area. There's certainly plenty of varieties to choose from!

[northepaul]

Quote Alison:
"Originally Posted by northepaul
I have January King as a winter cabbage - they seem ok, not yet very big and I think at the rate they're going, they should be called April King

Mine are a bit on the small side too Paul as they were planted out a tad late. They won't be growing now anyway as it's too cold so yours may have got as big as they are going to".


Oh no! They were only planted in October!!
Still you live and learn
I dont think I will be growing cabbages again, they take too long and too much room.
I was wondering though, If I planted some kale and broccolli in pots so they dont take up valuable veg patch space in the summer, would it be viable to transplant them after the summer crops have finished? Or do they need to stay in one place?

I really love kale and cant get it anywhere much round here.

[Two_Sheds]

Oh no! They were only planted in October!!
...If I planted some kale and broccolli in pots...would it be viable to transplant them after the summer crops have finished?

Yes, October is too late. They need sowing in April/May and planting out in late summer (ish).

You can interplant them with lettuce and things that will finish in autumn (catch cropping).

[sewer rat]

In the tunnel I grow Hispi and Minicole for early pointed and ballhead cabbages respectively.
Outdoors I grow Derby Day and Golden Acre Primo for summer ballhead, Red Drumhead for red cabbage and for winter I have Tundra and as a savoy I grow Primavoy. All have proven themselves to grow well up here, with the winter varieties proving especially good at standing the winter.