Last Autumn (my first lottie season) decided to try some overwintering brassicas. So last October-ish planted out some savoys, roundheaded, pointed (labels got washed off, one was "Tundra") and some heritage variety kale sent to me on joining by the HDRA. Thought they would grow and mature albeit slowly over the winter. They hardly grew at all, and I nearly pulled them all up in March - but fed them (as I read somewhere). Got some leaves off the kale, but it then bolted (sown at the wrong time I think.) The other cabbages took off and grew enormously - pointy ones were pickable a couple of months ago, but the savoys and round ones kept on growing and growing and growing - but not hearting up, until now. Yesterday I was finally able to cut one - and very delicious it was too, steamed for our supper with pepper and butter. Was afraid it might be bitter after all this growing time. My March planted Hispis are all grown and eaten. So my question is - does it usually take so long for this kind of cabbage to crop? nearly 9 months? If so, I need to know for sure so I can plan for it!
Many thanks.
Hi.....yes it does take a fair while for Savoys to come to harvest,I have just put my plants in at the lottie for harvesting during the winter,Spring cab will follow in Sept.
Remember to really firm brassicas in when planting,this will help them to heart up.I would reccommend a pinch of Nitrate of Soda at each plant about halfway thru their growing season,this gives them a much needed growth boost.Hope this helps.......Alan
Thanks very much for the tips Alan.
I agree - my spring cabbages went in around September 04 time and were only harvested about a month ago. Mind you, they were well worth the wait! ;D
That's good to know E-J thought I might have done something wrong. Didn't fleece them so will try that this year ans see if that speeds things along