Cabbage

Brassica oleracea

Cabbage is a hearty, leafy vegetable rich in nutrients and antioxidants. As a cool-season plant, cabbage makes a great addition to any garden because it can be harvested in fall or spring.

Below is more information regarding planting, growing, harvesting, and the history of cabbage.

HISTORY

It is hard to determine when cabbage was first cultivated because there are so many similar plants belonging to the "Brassica" family. It is said that cabbage was first introduced to Europe by the conquering Romans. About 3,000 years ago, Europeans bred the Roman cabbage into the form we see today. In the 17th and 18th centuries, cabbage was popular among sailors because it has high amounts of vitamin C which prevent scurvy. The first cabbage in the US was brought by a French explorer Jacques Cartier in the 1500s.

PLANTING

Where to plant cabbage?

Planting site needs full sun which means 6 to 8 hours of light per day
Cabbage requires nutrient heavy soil with a steady water supply
Avoid planting near other Brassica species like broccoli because of pests and diseases

When to start cabbage plants:

For spring harvest start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost
For fall harvest transfer or sow seeds mid to late summer

How to plant cabbage:

Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep
Plant seedlings 12 to 24 inches apart

GROWING

Water 1.5 inches per square foot per week
Optimal soil temperature for growth is 60-65 F. Cover plants if cold weather is expected
Fertilize 2 weeks after transferring
Add nitrogen-rich fertilizer 5 weeks after transferring
Practice crop rotation to minimize pests and disease

HARVESTING

How to harvest cabbage heads:

After 70 days each cabbage head is full grown and should weigh 1-3 pounds
Cut the cabbage head at its base with a sharp knife
Remove any yellow leaves
Bring indoors immediately
When wrapped in plastic and placed in the fridge the head will be good for up to 2 weeks

How to harvest seeds:

Cabbage is biennial and requires 2 growing seasons to complete its reproductive cycle
First remove the cabbage head from the roots
Replant the roots (indoors or keep them through the winter in a root cellar)
Roots should spout again, but not form a full head
After some time seed stalks will emerge
Allow the seed stalks to be pollinated by only other cabbage plants
Pick the seed pods when they turn brown and remove the seeds

FUN FACTS

Cabbage contains antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties
The name came from the French word "caboche" which means head
The Romans used cabbage as a hangover cure
Cabbage is thought to have strong anti-aging and anti-cancer properties
Drinking juiced cabbage can cure stomach and intestinal ulcers
Cabbage aids in the health of the digestive tract and colon
Scrolls from 1000 BC found in China stated cabbage could be used to cure baldness in men