Kitchen Garden Forum

Has anyone any experience of growing the winter cabbage varieties described in Peter Surridge's article in the new issue of KG? Space is at a premium for me, and in the past I've taken the view that winter cabbage takes too much space and is too long in the soil. Instead I've grown some of the smaller winter kale, packed quite tightly together. However, two of the varieties - Capriccio and Tundra - look quite small, so what are the planting distances?
In passing, it's not very helpful to have an article in the JUne issue saying sow your winter cabbage in April and plant out in May. However, Peter says that Capriccio was ready by September, so I imagine it could be sown somewhat later.

I always try to plant over wintering cabbages about 10 cm (4 inches) apart, then in early spring you can pick Spring Greens, until you leave the plants spaced at either 30cm (12inch) 40cm, 50cm etc until you have the right spacing for your variety.

Thanks, Vivianne, though these are more cabbages for maturing and using during the winter, rather than for maturing in the spring. But it would be interesting to see whether I could get away with 12in. spacing.

Hello Ken
I've grown Tundra in the past and it really is an excellent cabbage. The plants in the photo in the mag look rather sad and don't do it justice. They can grow quite large. It depends how early you sow them but sowing too late, with the hope of getting smaller heads, can mean that they don't head up at all! I grew them at 18" to 24" spacings. They stand well into the winter. The problem with this crop as the article points out is that the plants have to run the gauntlet of all the summer pests like caterpillars, greenfly, whitefly, slugs and so on. I used environmesh which kept most things out and gave a good feed of growmore then later on some nitrochalk. You can get several meals off each head.
If you are looking for a cabbage with smaller heads to grow at closer spacing then you could try Minicole though this is really an autumn one - lasting into October. These grow quickly and stand for quite a while. I grow these every year as the taste is excellent.

John

Thanks, John. That's really helpful. If I'm going to grow winter cabbage this year, I'm going to have to decide very soon...
I generally use Environmesh on my summer cabbages and winter kale. A cabbage white or two managed to get under last year, but there wasn't too much damage.

Hi Ken,
One Cabbage I can really recommend is January King Late Hardy Stock 3. It is a really good old time hybrid between a Caggage and a Savoy that has been improved and it is good eating and stands well. It is a differnt cabbage to January King because JK matures in December so is a bit of a misnomer. That too is worth a try as it makes good eating only just a little earlier and doesn't possess the standing qualities.

Thanks, Johnboy. I took your recommendations on winter lettuces back in the winter of 2004/5 and they worked very well! All the best, Ken