Cabbage

History of Cabbage

Cabbage is a member of the Cruciferae family. It is a biennial plant whose vegetable is a leafy cluster. The modern cabbage is relatively young, having been bred only about 1900 years ago. While the cabbage's leaf spread is almost indistinguishable from collards, it has one very important difference - the cabbage has a large concentration of immature leaves called a "head". The cabbage head is eaten raw, cooked, fermented and preserved. The cabbage has a few varieties you might enjoy like:

· Jersey Wakefield
· Danish Ballhead
· Savoy, and
· Red Cabbage

Cabbage Growing Needs

Most cabbage is associated with early and late growing periods. Early cabbage matures in 50 days, while late cabbage matures in 80 days but produces a larger head. Cabbage has a flexible sunlight requirement, which does not require direct or intense sunlight. It can be started indoors and does NOT do well when maturing in mid-summer. Cabbage keeps well and is an excellent winter vegetable. It requires moderate to heavy water and flourishes in soils with strong and diverse mineral content.

Cabbage Pests

Various caterpillars and butterflies are the most common pests to cabbage. These include the cutworm, cabbage worm, and diamond-backed moth larvae. Basic pesticides will repel these pests.

Tomato / Corn / Potato / Cabbage / Collards / Turnips / Lettuce / Okra / Broccoli / Squash / Chile Pepper / Onions / Leeks / Garlic / Nuts: Honorable Mention