Spring Cabbage, Wintergreen
Brassica oleracea
Approx. 250-300 seeds per gram
Like all the Brassica vegetables, Spring greens are extremely good for
us. They contain vitamin C and K and the benefits to our immune systems
are well evidenced.
Spring cabbage has been very difficult to get in organic seed.
Wintergreen is a dark green open headed cabbage with a wonderful spring green taste. It crops from January onwards and so it is a welcome and valuable crop when little else in the garden is ready. We usually offer Wintergreen in packets to amateur gardeners and if stocks allow small quantities to growers. There is a certain lack of uniformity in the crop which professional growers should be aware of but is still a valuable source of greens in the early Spring.
How to grow:
Grow in the Brassica section of your rotation.
Sow seeds July or August in the Brassica seed bed. They will be ready to
transplant in September or October when they about 10 cm tall.
Soak the plants before transplanting if the soil is dry and dig them out
carefully with a fork. Keep the roots wet while you are transplanting
the plants to their permanent position. This will help them get
established quickly. You can do this with a dibber making holes about 15
cm deep and 45 cm apart. Pop the transplant in and firm the soil around
and water well.
Harvest late Winter and early Spring.
Pests and diseases:
The seedlings can be susceptible to slug damage and cabbage white butterfly caterpillars.
We find the best way to protect from this is to net with enviromesh during the Summer.
How to cook:
You can pick individual leaves or whole heads of Spring greens. Wash the
leaves and strip them from the stems. Steam or boil in a small amount
of water for a few minutes until tender. They have a wonderful silky
luxuriousness as well as good flavour.