Red Cabbages
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Primrose
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Can somebody please tell me the best way of growing red cabbages. My first attempt this year has been a disaster with all the leaves open like a floribunda rose and no little tight ball. I think perhaps I should have tied the leaves up but was under the impression the centre ball formed itself naturally as the plant matured. How do they get those lovely tight balls in red cabbages you buy in the supermarket?
Hello Primrose
I'm not too sure about this one - the only thing I can think of is that you sowed them rather late or that they have had some sort of check to their growth and haven't had the time to mature properly. Red cabs are grown like ordinary summer brassicas. The seeds are sown about April time, transplanted when big enough to about 18" apart and should grow on to mature about this time of year.
Hope this is of some help. How did you grow yours?
They are a really worthwhile veg to grow. We love it cooked with apple - it lasts several days, in fact tastes better when reheated the next day!
John
I'm not too sure about this one - the only thing I can think of is that you sowed them rather late or that they have had some sort of check to their growth and haven't had the time to mature properly. Red cabs are grown like ordinary summer brassicas. The seeds are sown about April time, transplanted when big enough to about 18" apart and should grow on to mature about this time of year.
Hope this is of some help. How did you grow yours?
They are a really worthwhile veg to grow. We love it cooked with apple - it lasts several days, in fact tastes better when reheated the next day!
John
The Gods do not subtract from the allotted span of men’s lives, the hours spent fishing Assyrian tablet
What we observe is not nature itself, but nature exposed to our method of questioning Werner Heisenberg
I am a man and the world is my urinal
What we observe is not nature itself, but nature exposed to our method of questioning Werner Heisenberg
I am a man and the world is my urinal
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Primrose
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John, I couldn't find any seed packets so was reduced to buying a pack of seedlings from a garden centre. They seemed to be really thriving until we hit the July heatwave,but despite being watered regularly, they went downhill from then onwards.
I agree it's a great vegetable. We too eat it fried with apple and onion and some chopped smoked Polish-type sausage stirred in, served with mashed potatoes. Sadly it looks as if I'll be using supermarket red cabbage this autumn though. My efforts look only fit for the compost heap.
I agree it's a great vegetable. We too eat it fried with apple and onion and some chopped smoked Polish-type sausage stirred in, served with mashed potatoes. Sadly it looks as if I'll be using supermarket red cabbage this autumn though. My efforts look only fit for the compost heap.
Hi Primrose,
Like John I am a little lost on this. I have never experienced this and as John quite rightly says they grow just like any other Summer Brassica.
For the first time I have grown Large Red Marner and they are doing just fine.
It distresses me that I can only give words of consolation and no advice but I have never known this before.
JB.
Like John I am a little lost on this. I have never experienced this and as John quite rightly says they grow just like any other Summer Brassica.
For the first time I have grown Large Red Marner and they are doing just fine.
It distresses me that I can only give words of consolation and no advice but I have never known this before.
JB.
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Primrose
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So what you seem to be both seem to be suggesting is that the tight hearts form naturally and the leaves don't have to be tied up (rather like pulling the leaves over a cauliflower heart)? I'll leave mine in a little longer and see if any hearts start to form, but I suspect it will probably be a waste of time. Ah, the joys of gardening !
Hi Primrose,
Sadly, I reckon that you are right. You certainly do
not have to manipulate the leaves in any way.
BTW, how firm are these cabbages in the ground because if they have been wind blown and are not good and firm in the ground could possible be a factor for you predicament.
JB.
Sadly, I reckon that you are right. You certainly do
not have to manipulate the leaves in any way.
BTW, how firm are these cabbages in the ground because if they have been wind blown and are not good and firm in the ground could possible be a factor for you predicament.
JB.
Hi Primrose
I had the same thing last year with my green cabbages. I don't know what caused it, but assumed it was underwatering. However this year, when they've had even less water, they were fine (both green and red cabbages) - well at least the slugs thought they were as there is not a lot of the heads left!
If there's one thing I'm learning from this gardening lark - if one thing doesn't go wrong, then surely something else will!
PS the 'loose' cabbages last year tasted fine though!
Jacquie
I had the same thing last year with my green cabbages. I don't know what caused it, but assumed it was underwatering. However this year, when they've had even less water, they were fine (both green and red cabbages) - well at least the slugs thought they were as there is not a lot of the heads left!
If there's one thing I'm learning from this gardening lark - if one thing doesn't go wrong, then surely something else will!
PS the 'loose' cabbages last year tasted fine though!
Jacquie
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Colin Miles
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I have just picked my first and only red cabbage. A magnificent specimen but it was supposed to be a sprout and was happily sitting amongst Brilliant and Montgomery! If I knew what variety it was I would order some seed.
As for my green cabbages and broccoli, when I went away a couple of weeks ago I carefully "Derrissed" them and also covered my 4 beautiful Autumn Prides to prevent further eggs being laid. Unfortunately I didn't put down any slug pellets - BIG mistake. Result, at least one virtually bored to the core by big fat black slugs whereas uncovered cabbages and broccoli slug-free, though I don't think the Derris has much, if any, affect on the caterpillars. I am still picking them off by hand.
As for my green cabbages and broccoli, when I went away a couple of weeks ago I carefully "Derrissed" them and also covered my 4 beautiful Autumn Prides to prevent further eggs being laid. Unfortunately I didn't put down any slug pellets - BIG mistake. Result, at least one virtually bored to the core by big fat black slugs whereas uncovered cabbages and broccoli slug-free, though I don't think the Derris has much, if any, affect on the caterpillars. I am still picking them off by hand.