Cabbage


Cabbages

The cultivated cabbage is related to the wild mustard, which originates from the Mediterranean region. It grows best in temperate climates. Large producers of cabbage are China, India, Russia, Korea and Japan.

Cabbage can be eaten raw or cooked, and it is often used in soups and stews. It can also be fermented to make sauerkraut or kimchi.

There are quite a number of different head-forming cabbages, all belonging to the ‘capitata’ group.

Names

Scientific
   Brassica oleracea var. capitata
English
   Cabbage
   Colewort
   Head cabbage
   Heading cabbage
   Red cabbage
   Savoy cabbage
   White cabbage
   Winter cabbage
Dutch
   Kool
   Rode kool
   Rodekool
   Savooiekool
   Savooikool
   Spitskool
   Witte kool
Spanish
   Col
   Col de savoya
   Col lombarda
   Col morada
   Lombarda
   Repollo
   Repollo morado
French
   Chou
   Chou cabus
   Chou rouge
German
   Kopfkohl
   Rotkohl
   Spitzkohl
   Spitzkraut
   Weißkohl
   Weißkraut
   Wirsingkohl

Taxonomy

Genus
   Brassica
Family
   Brassicaceae
Order
   Brassicales

Basic information and facts

Origin:

Cultivated cabbage is related to the wild mustard, which originates from the Mediterranean region.

Distribution:

Grows best in temperate climates. Large producers of cabbage are China, India, Russia, Korea and Japan.

Annual, biennial, or perennial:

Cabbage is a biennial plant but it is grown as an annual. For seed production it is biennial.

Flowers:

 

Leaves:

The leaves are wrapped close together to form a “head”. Heads can have a weight between 0.5 and 3.5 kg.

Climate and weather:

Prefers temperate climates. Some tropical countries also produce cabbage in hill areas and during the cooler seasons.

Pollination:

Plants cannot self-pollinate, but are cross-pollinated by insects.

Type of soil:

Prefers well-drained soils.

Moisture:

?

Light:

Prefers to grow in full sun light.

Spacing (close range)

30 centimeters between plants

Spacing (wide range)

60 centimeters between plants

Propagation:

By seed.

Insect pests:

Many insects pests. Some important pests include the Cabbage whites (Small White: Pieris rapae, Large White Pieris brassicae), the Diamond-back moth (Plutella xylostella) and the Cabbage Webworm (Hellula undalis). But caterpillars of several other Lepidoptera can also feed on the plants. Other insect pests include aphids, cabbage flies, and flea beetles.

Diseases:

Several fungal diseases including Fusarium, Alternaria and Downy mildew. Bacterial diseases such as Black rot.

Nematodes:

Root-knot nematodes.

Harvesting:

Cut the stem just below the head.

Uses:

Cabbage is often eaten raw (as salads) or cooked in various ways. It is often used in soups and stews. Sometimes it is pickled or can be fermented to make sauerkraut or kimchi.

Proverbs and Quotes

  • A louse in the cabbage is better than no meat at all.
  • It’s no use boiling your cabbage twice.
  • Cabbage: A vegetable about as large and wise as a man’s head. (Ambrose Bierce)
  • This cabbage, these carrots, these potatoes, these onions … will soon become me. Such a tasty fact! (Mike Garofalo)

Crop categories

Vegetables
Leaf vegetables
Food crops
Temperate crops

Pictures


Cabbages

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