Cabbage is a versatile vegetable that grows very well in our Prince George area. It is a member of the brassica family that includes cauliflower, broccoli, brussels sprouts, kale, kohlrabi etc., all of which are cool weather crops, that prefer cooler temperatures.

There is a large assortment of different varieties of cabbage starting with the early season, mid season, and late season varieties. Some are grown for their long storage, others are grown for culinary purposes, while still others are grown as ornamental plants for the flower garden.

Cabbage is an easy to grow plant that does not require a lot of care and attention. It will grow in different soils but does best in a well drained soil that is rich in compost as they are heavy feeders. They will tolerate some shade but prefer full sun. They are also able to withstand some frost.

The key to growing healthy plants is to keep them steadily growing. A sudden growth spurt from uneven moisture or too much fertilizer can cause the heads to split. Crop rotation is another important factor in growing a healthy garden. Do not plant members of the brassica family in the same place in the garden, two years in a row. Wait 2-3 years before planting in the same spot.

Cabbage can be started from seeds directly sown in the garden, but some varieties require a long growing season and these are better started indoors and then planted outdoors as transplants. Seeds can be started indoors in early April and be hardened off and planted outdoors by mid May. Transplants are also available at the garden centres as bedding plants.

When it is time to plant out the transplants, plant them slightly deeper than they were in the container. They can be planted to the first set of leaves. Cabbage need their space to grow properly. Space plants 35-45 cm apart in rows 90 cm to 1 meter apart.

Young cabbage plants can sometimes be bothered by cutworms which come out at night and eat the stems at ground level, or by maggots which eat the plants roots. Floating crop covers will help avoid this problem. The cover is placed over the plants until mid season, and then removed when the threat has passed.

We have been growing cabbage in our home garden for over thirty years, and over that time have tried many different varieties. Some varieties such as 'Novator' produce large 4 kg round heads. Novator is a late season cabbage that requires a long growing season, and is a very good cabbage for winter storage. 'Adaptor' is an excellent late season variety that produces 15-20 cm, solid, round heads, good for slaw. Another large, good tasting, cabbage variety is the mid season 'Hercules'. Hercules produces a flat shaped head which is ideal for cabbage rolls. 'Blue Dynasty' is a mid season variety that produces 1.5-1.8 kg heads. It is excellent for fresh eating and cole slaw. An early season cabbage is 'Golden Acre'. This variety only needs 55-60 days and will produce a round, 1.5 – 2.0 kg head.

Cabbage is not just for the vegetable garden. There are some ornamental or flowering cabbage varieties that have attractive, coloured foliage, that are beautiful in the flower garden. They are hardy and are able to withstand frost, making them an attractive fall plant.

-Jos

Jos Van Hage owns and operates two Art Knapp Home and Garden Centres in Prince George:

• Highway 16  west  at Kimball Road
• Highway 97 North at Northwood Pulpmill Road