Spring Cabbage

[Diana]

In the new issue of Kitchen Garden, they have a sowing guide (very useful), but is says you can sow Spring Cabbages in Jan + Feb.

Is this right? I thought they had to be sown in Autumn + planted out over winter (it does mention autumn too).

I only ask as if it is OK to sow some now I'll get on with it, I just though I was too late.

Any suggestions?

D :)

[Diana]

[tim]

Spring will be a little late this year??

I'm surprised - summer cabbages next month, but spring late summer to autumn - to my mind.

[busy_lizzie]

Surprised too! I noticed with some of their other suggestions for planting, they recommended planting times probably too early for our part of the country (N.E.). I find they are only a guide sometimes, and you have to use your own discretion for some things.  You can never judge how long the winter will last and each part of the country can be different weatherwise. Last Spring we had quite a lot of late frosts so things went in much later. busy_lizzie

[Diana]

Thanks Tim - that's what I thought

BL - I agree. Ususally make it up as I go along + get by OK ::)

[derbex]

Well I'm trying it -Hispi is the variety- and you need to start it off in the warm. Mine came uo in a few days.

I don't think it's a traditional spring cabbage -just a fast maturing one.

Jeremy

[tim]

Well - you learn every day??

"How to grow indoors: Sow in February in gentle heat or September-October. Overwinter in a cold frame and plant out in spring."

And, of course, 'Spring Greens' are great - especially for Chinese 'Seaweed'?

[Diana]

Thank you.

I think I'll try - after all, if they don't reach maturity - as you say Tim - spring greens are great

[jennym]

Not really a spring variety, but we had some Greyhound last year in May that had been sown in early February.

[redimp]

I havce got Greyhound and Wheeler's Imperial over wintering at them moment - planted late summer early spring.  I also have a couple of other varities given me by my dad - one is a dwarf one and the other is Durham Early.

[theothermarg]

? I read that too ,panicked couldn't find the seeds Inew I had then
remembered i'd grown them in the autumn and they were under their nets up the lottie they belong    :P
I think I'll go and hav e a nice cup of tea and recover from my senior moment

[MattyJC]

My spring cabbage will be heading for the compost heap very soon....unless they have a growth spurt, it was my first year for growing them, planted in the autumn then they just seem to have sat there and done nothing  :( can anyone tell me if they will improve or is it too late?? cant remember the variety, seem to have thrown the packet out!

Thanks for your advice, as always..I will try and keep you posted!

Matt

[RSJK]

Yes they are correct spring cabbage can be grown allmost all year round now. There are a lot of good F1 varieties about nowdays, Duncan being one of them and there is a good one available from Moles seeds called Spitfire.

[Curryandchips]

Durham early is the only variety I have, but I may as well give them a try ...

[growmore]

Leave em be Matty they should start growing as soon as weather warms up .What variety were they? ..Cheers ..Jim

[Debs]

Well - you learn every day??

"How to grow indoors: Sow in February in gentle heat or September-October. Overwinter in a cold frame and plant out in spring."

...presumably it's because the autumn sown will be slower to take due to

colder temp and the feb grown are cossetted with a little heat??

.....just a guess, wouldn't know meself, as I've never grown them, but do

like spring greens :P

Debs