Cabbage suggestions

I'm going to be having a go at growing cabbage and sprouting brocolli for the first time this year. Have been looking at some varieties to buy seed but the options are quite overwhelming. I'd like to have a year round crop if possible - could I have winter then summer cabbages in the same spot? I was thinking maybe Tundra would suit, and possibly Micro F1 (though how 'micro' they are I can't make out). What do you think? Could anyone suggest some varieties that would suit - easyish to grow, compact, suitable for a raised bed, fairly sunny aspect, hearting sort of cabbage. Brocolli, I'm not sure which to grow, something with good crop and suitable for my situation I suppose.

Thanks
GG

 

GG, I'd say you've made a good start by going with Tundra as a winter cabbage.
You could also try January King, a great winter favourite of mine, they're hardy, reliable and have a good flavour too.

The important thing with winter cabbage is to get the sowing dates right, pay attention to the sowing dates recommended on the packet and try to stick to them. If you leave it too late (as I sometimes do if the space isn't available) the plants won't have enough growing time during the summer to heart up properly, or you'll only get small hearts.

I can't advise you on summer cabbages as I don't grow them. I've tried them in the past and had trouble with caterpillars, slugs and snails, so I prefer to stick to winter cabbage to avoid this problem.

I would consider giving calabrese 'Marathon' a try too. It's a compact, vigorous autumn/early winter variety which will produce decent sized heads for cutting around November/December time and, if the winter isn't too harsh, it will go on producing secondary shoots which you can cut through the winter.

 

I've grown Hispi for the last 2 years. Compact and easy to grow I've found.

Rusty

 

Moles Seeds have "comparison charts" for quite a lot of veg, showing when to Sow/Harvest various varieties. Might help give you a guide as to what is possible, and roughly what the sowing times are - i.e. to help with planning. You can get your seed from Moles, its cheap, but the catch is that their smallest packet size tends to be "large" - so smaller packets may be available cheaper elsewhere (although most veg seed will keep 2 or several years).

Anyways, find a veg such as Cabbage and select a Type and a Variety and see if it has a Comparison Chart link. Here's a link to Cabbages:

http://molesseeds.co.uk/flower_and_vegetable_seed_store_uk/Products_Cabbage_3388.html

which has a link to charts like these:

Ballhead:


Pointed:


Red, Winter and Savoy:

 

Thanks, that's really helpful. Fingers crossed. What do you reckon is best bet for a beginner regarding germination - indoors? or straight outdoors?

GG

 

I germinate everything indoors - because if I want to harvest 4-plants-a-fortnight then that is what I raise - rather than a whole row.

but having said that Brassica seedlings hate heat. Its OK to have a bit for germination, but they don't want any extra after that, so cold greenhouse would be fine.

If you have plenty of seed then outside is fine. Typically they are raised in a nursery seedbed and then transplanted. You'll "waste" more seed that way, but you probably won't want to keep it more than say 2 seasons, so if "half the seed" is enough for one season then outdoors will do.

OTOH if the packet only has 15 seeds in it then I would grow them indoors. And carefully!

 

I'll try the indoor route then and see how that goes. Cheers.

 

Get them out of any heat once they have germinated. Perhaps not in really cold outdoor temperatures, if we get any, but certainly not in central heating either.

 

I germinate mine in the conservatory and leave them in there. It has a small rad, but it is still very cool. This is the first year I will have the grow house, so I will move them in there after germinating.

Rusty

 

Thanks for this advice, I have an unheated garden room so that should be a good place for them once they have popped.

Cheers
GG