Why grow cabbage?

Cabbage is a versatile and tasty crop that has the added benefit of being a member of the brassica family. This highly nutritious group also includes kale, cauliflower and broccoli, as well as a host of other vegetables from radish to pak choy. Cabbage can be eaten both raw or cooked and lasts for a long time in the fridge once havested. It can be grown year round. 

How to grow cabbage

Cabbage can be grown from seed directly into the soil, or as seedlings. You can grow green, purple or Chinese cabbage. To grow well, cabbage needs full sun and compost-rich loamy soil, like most vegetables. If you plant it in Autumn, it will grow and sit in the soil over Winter for you to harvest as needed. However, in September or October it will bolt to seed. One trick is to cut it in Winter and eat it, leaving the base of the plant in the ground. This will then regrow and form baby cabbages that can be harvested for eating as well. 

Still to come

Next time I will talk about growing baby kale.  

This week's recipe links

Classic Swede and Carrot Soup from The Vegan Larder. 

Mille-Feuille Nabe from Not Quite Nigella. 

Rocket, Beetroot, Walnuts and Feta with Balsamic Dressing from Recipe Tin Eats. 

Caramelised Leek Pasta from Bakerita. 

More info

To read more about what's happening on our local organic farm this week as we grow and care for veggies for our box delivery, check out this week's newsletter here.