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