F1 Hybrid cabbage seeds are very expensive per seed, so these ten steps on how to sow will avoid wastage of seed because they will not have to be thinned out, and each plant will be able to grow fat & stubby, so that it is easy to transplant.
1. Read the instructions on the back of the packet.
2. Rake the soil to create a seed bed with a crumb structure Read More »
Club Root, a devastating disease which attacks brassicas, can be overcome by growing resistant varieties.
Clubroot attacks the roots of brassicas. Deformed, swollen roots lead to stunted, poorly developed plants. Read More »
The sprout top is the growing point at the top of a brussels sprout stalk.
The top can be broken off with a sharp twisting action.
The process of removing the tops is often called ’stopping the sprouts’ as it stops the elongation of the stalk and causes all the sprouts to equalise.
Brussels Sprouts start to develop at the bottom of the main stalk first. Then the sprouts further up the stalk start to grow, and the last to develop are those sprouts at the top of the stalk. Read More »
Cabbage is a brassica with thickened, overlapping leaves on the terminal bud of the plant. When the cabbage is cut in half, the structure of the bud can be seen.
Cabbage is usually eaten cooked, but sometimes it is eaten fresh in coleslaw. Cabbage may be pickled in sauerkraut.
The F1 Celtic winter cabbage, planted out in June, is growing fast. The Celtic cabbage produces a rock hard ball which is capable of standing for months without splitting. This is important when growing in the garden for a family, because it is difficult to have a harvesting programme which gives fresh veg every day.
The cabbage plants have been covered with a tunnel of enviromesh, which has kept the aphids and cabbage white butterflies off the cabbage, so they have remained clean.
Brussel sprout plants have grown so well that they have been staked to give them support. The large leaves become very heavy after a rain, and the plants can topple over in a wind. Any movement of the stalk will lift the roots and destroy some smaller root hairs.
So, loosely tying the stalks to a stake will reduce rocking of the leaf canopy, and preserve 
the root system underground. If the soil is loose, the roots can be firmed in by heeling it down. More soil can be put to them if necessary.
Mid-July and August is a good time to sow Spring Cabbage in the vegetable garden for harvest next April or May.
Spring Cabbage seed should be planted 0.5cm deep in a seed bed or trays of seed compost. The seed bed should be kept moist.
In 5 or 6 weeks the spring cabbage plants will be strong enough to transplant to their final positions. Cabbages like a deeply dug, well cultivated soil. Firm the plants well into the ground and water well until they are established.
The Spring Cabbage will be produce good firm hearts ready for harvest in April and May. The cabbages can also be cut as Spring Greens earlier in the year.
TopVeg is growing the variety Offenham 2 - Flower of Spring.
Beware of the Cabbage White butterflies around the cabbages, sprouts and broccoli.
Biological control of the cabbage white butterfly involves placing empty egg shells on sticks. Read More »
The sun has come out, and the broccoli leaves are going limp and wilting in the vegetable garden.
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