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The Show => Veggie Show => Topic started by: Garden Manager on September 20, 2007, 12:23:52

Title: 2007 Walking Stick Cabbage
Post by: Garden Manager on September 20, 2007, 12:23:52: Hre is a photo of my attempt to grow walking stick cabbage. The photo is of my talllest 2 plants. They are 165cm or 5' 5" tall.

Looking forward to seeing other people's efforts

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v159/richardfiler/New%20Pictures/Walkingstickcabbage.jpg)
Title: Re: 2007 Walking Stick Cabbage
Post by: Lauren S on September 20, 2007, 13:22:50: Ahem...(showing ignorance now) :-[...Why are they called Walking Stick Cabbages? ??? You'd have to be very tall to use those as walking sticks. More like crutches :o

Lauren ;D
Title: Re: 2007 Walking Stick Cabbage
Post by: cambourne7 on September 20, 2007, 14:05:03: i think you can leave the stalk to mature and use it to make walking sticks
Title: Re: 2007 Walking Stick Cabbage
Post by: Rosyred on September 20, 2007, 14:10:46: Or are they just a good perch for the birds to get a better grip to eat all the cabbage.
Title: Re: 2007 Walking Stick Cabbage
Post by: Garden Manager on September 20, 2007, 17:56:51: Appearances can be deceptive. The stems of even a one year old plant are very woody - as I found when i cut mine down (I had about 9 originaly). I am guessing once dried the fleshy outer can be removed just leaving the woody core. It is this that can be made into a walking stick. I am 6' tall so even one of my shorter ones would make me a good walking stick - of the long 'dalesman' type that is ;D.
Title: Re: 2007 Walking Stick Cabbage
Post by: cambourne7 on September 21, 2007, 01:45:46: yes i think you need to leave it a second year.

If you google it i am sure you will see something intresting :)
Title: Re: 2007 Walking Stick Cabbage
Post by: carrot-cruncher on September 21, 2007, 01:49:17: They are a speciality on the island of Jersey. They feed the tops to cattle & then the stalks are used in place of firewood or some are dried out & polished and sold as walking sticks. The walking stick itself is very light & strong so useful for everybody.

CC

ps. I would love to grow a couple, where do you get the seeds from??
Title: Re: 2007 Walking Stick Cabbage
Post by: Garden Manager on September 21, 2007, 10:47:54: Quote from: carrot-cruncher on September 21, 2007, 01:49:17
They are a speciality on the island of Jersey. They feed the tops to cattle & then the stalks are used in place of firewood or some are dried out & polished and sold as walking sticks. The walking stick itself is very light & strong so useful for everybody.

CC

ps. I would love to grow a couple, where do you get the seeds from??

Got mine from Thompson and Morgan Seeds. Well actualy they were part of a free veg seed offer from the Daily Mail, so i didnt buy them. I guess other seed companies do it as well but I have never looked.

PS if you or anyone else is interested in seed of the variety I grew, I have some to spare, if you want to sent me a PM with your details and how many you want. Purely on a first come first served basis mind.
Title: Re: 2007 Walking Stick Cabbage
Post by: Andy H on September 23, 2007, 17:31:20: I sent one off to kenkew (i think) but he said it was hollowish type and no good for walking sticks, I wonder if it was dried wrong in my shed???

My current one has flowered for the 2nd time this year, think it is confused.. ???
Title: Re: 2007 Walking Stick Cabbage
Post by: kenkew on September 24, 2007, 22:11:02: Usually 2 years is OK but if the seasons been a good one, even a one year stalk will make a stick. I'd like to have a go at making a stick from one, not used Kale sticks before.
The one you sent me Andy I did actually put to some use. I cut it into sections and made things from it so it wasn't wasted.
The 'lighter holder' in the pic is part of your stick!
Title: Re: 2007 Walking Stick Cabbage
Post by: Andy H on September 24, 2007, 22:23:01: Nice one! glad some part of it was of use. ;D