With a little planning it's possible to pick fresh cabbages nearly every day of the year. Cabbages are divided - depending on when they're ready to use - into spring, summer and winter types.
Spring greens are undeveloped spring cabbages and are traditionally sown in summer, but can be sown all year round.
Sow thinly 13mm (0.5in) deep in a seed bed in rows 15cm (6in) apart. Thin the seedlings to 7.5cm (3in) apart.
Spring cabbage: Sow in July/August; transplant in September/October.
Summer cabbage: Sow from late February/early March (under cloches or similar cover) until early May; transplant in May/June.
Winter cabbages: Sow in April/May; transplant in late June/July.
Transplant the young plants to their growing position when plants have five or six true leaves, setting the lowest leaves at ground level. Water well the day before moving, firm in well after transplanting and 'puddle' in the plants with plenty of water. Plant compact varieties 30cm (1ft) apart, larger varieties up to 45cm (18in) apart. Plant spring cabbages just 10cm (4in) apart in rows 30cm (1ft) apart - thin out to 30cm (1ft) apart in late February/March and use the thinnings as spring greens.
Water well in dry weather and conserve soil moisture with a mulch. Occasional summer feeding with a liquid fertiliser will improve results.
Cabbage rootfly can be a problem - the females lay eggs around the stems and the resulting larvae eat the roots; look out for wilting plants that produce reddish leaves. To protect against attack, grow the plants through brassica collars or make your own from discs of felt with a radial slit to help position the disc snuggly around the stem.
Growing the plants under fleece will help prevent against rootfly attack and will also prevent cabbage white caterpillars and pigeons getting at the crop.
Cabbages are harvested by cutting through the stem just above ground level with a sharp knife. Cut a 13mm (0.5in) deep cross in the stump of spring and summer cabbages and you'll be rewarded with a second crop of much smaller cabbages.
