This Alaskan take on a Russian folktale (The Giant Turnip) is a sweet children’s story about some friends who work together to harvest a cabbage that grew too big. A moose, bear, wolf, fox, hare, porcupine, squirrel and vole work together to dismantle a cabbage that would have won a major award at the state fair if only they could have moved it whole. Instead, they decide to cut it into portions they each can easily move, and everyone takes a piece home to make soup.

Gardens are a wonderful place for people to work together! Many hands make for light work. We have a crew of up to 10 workers on Saturday mornings in the Vegetable garden. Look for a copy of this book in the Children’s Section.

Growing Cabbage

Cabbage (Brassica oleracea) is a cold tolerant vegetable that typically matures in 65 to 90 day, depending on the variety. Although cold tolerant, it is best to start seeds in a sheltered area and transplant once all danger of frost has passed. Cabbage can be eaten in many ways: raw and in soups and stews are popular methods.

One of the common pests of this family of plants is the cabbage moth. It is a white moth that lays its eggs on the leaves of brassicas. The eggs hatch into a green caterpillar that feed on the leaves. They can be organically controlled by picking them off the plants or using a row cover to keep the moths away from the plants. Since the cabbage does not need to be pollinated, the row covers can remain on until harvest.