Topic: cabbage seed

[willsy]

Does anyone know where I can purchase some Early York Cabbage seeds.Anyway that is what i was told they are called, i believe they are an Irish seed. Any help much appreciated. Ann ( Obviously these are for next year now)

[willsy]

So has no one heard of these seeds then? I have seen them on sites especially an Irish 1, but doesn't tell you where you can purchase them.

[ceres]

It's not a variety, it's a type of cabbage.  It's the name given for early/spring pointed head varieties like Wintergreen Offenham, April, Greyhound etc.

[willsy]

Thanks for your reply, but I think it is a variety. My Irish neighbour gets them brought over from Ireland.Sometimes he goes over for holiday and brings them back.
I asked my other Irish neighbour and he told me they are called Early York and they are a massive round solid type of cabbage. P.S. dont ask me to ask him for some , Ive made enough hints and he isnt forth coming. Tight Git. ??? ??? ???

[Ellen K]

^^ offer him money - he'll get the message  :)

[grannyjanny]

or a seeds swap ;).

[goodlife]

Maybe that cabbage is called with some other name too..it is not first time..nor last.. ::)
See this...
http://www.seedaholic.com/cabbage-wintergreen-offenham-3.html
There seem to be variety called Early York..mentioned in Thomas Etty cataloque..but not selled by them.
And some types of cabbages are called York cabbages as general name.
But I haven't come across Early York as variety in sale..googling doesn't bring much up neither.

[goodlife]

Here is another refrence to the Early York.
http://bcheritage.ca/craigflower/tour/farm/produce.html
No wonder you are having dificulty of finding the seeds. Your Irish neighbour should produce seed from his cabbages if it is THE Early York..and help to preserve that old variety.
Perharp you should educate him.. ;)..offer to produce seeds for him....and for yourself too....and for swaps.. ;) ;D

[ceres]

DEFRA maintains a list of all recognised plant and seed varieties for the UK:

Plant Varieties and Seeds Gazette

Perhaps you can find the same for Ireland.

edit: the gazette oncludes details of the supplier.

[mickstani]

Extract from an Irish garden centre december  blog (Horkans) :- Plant some Early York cabbage plants now for great tasting cabbage in mid summer. Hispi is the variety I would recommend.
Seems that early york cabbage is an irish term for spring cabbage.

[davyw1]

I came up with much the same, A photo may help with what type they are

Spring cabbage with pointed heads and 'April' and 'Offenham' are a good reliable varieties, sown in late July. 'Spring Hero' is ball-headed and sown in July. 'Greyhound' is a pointed summer/autumn variety sown in March to June. Ball-headed vareites are mostly summer and autumn maturing, also winter.

[goodlife]

Early York was commonly grown in 1800's ..like so many other old varieties it only exist in small collections and seed banks..I doubt you can just buy it anymore..
Unless that Irish neighbour of yours have some connections to a collector or other organisation I would think his seeds are 'York cabbage' as a general term for the type of cabbage rather than variety.
But of course it is possible that it is indeed a rarity that he is trying to keep from you..ask to see his seed packet..