Careful planting provides continuous supply

Press, 23 September 1983, Page 14

Careful planting provides continuous supply

GARDENING

byl

M.Lusty

Cabbages can be grown all the year round by using different types, and by so doing it is possible to ensure a continuous supply. There are four main types of cabbage generally recognised. They are: ® Spring cabbage — smooth and pointed.

© Drumhead — smooth leafed, round and flat topped (includes red or pickling cabbage). © Ball cabbage — smooth leafed, round.

© Savoy winter cabbage — crinkle-leafed.

Spring cabbage is hardy, relatively quick maturing, succeeds in various conditions, and is especially suited to autumn sowing and planting. The type matures, on average, in about 16 to 18 weeks but there is a wide range and in unfavourable conditions maturity may take up to seven months. February sowing is generally preferred and seedlings should be ready for setting out six to eight weeks later.

Popular spring cabbages include Autumn Pride, Enfield Market, Festival, Flowers of Spring, and Succession.

The smooth-leafed and drumhead cabbages are not quite so widely grown for winter harvesting because they do not suit prolonged low temperatures as well, although improved cultivars are overcoming this. It usually takes about 10 to 16 weeks before these types are ready to cut, but again, growing conditions and variety will influence this factor. Late spring, summer, and autumn harvesting is normal and the season can be extended by sowing under glass or in a warm, sheltered situation in late autumn. ~ „ —-•

Cultivars belonging to this group include Derby

Day, Green Gold Hybrid, Golden Acre, and Copenhagen. Red cabbages are a drumhead type and have gained considerably in popularity. Most are fairly slow-maturing and should be sown in spring. Red Dutch, Ruby Cross Hybrid and Burgundy Hybrid are well-proven examples of this sort of cabbage. Savoy winter cabbage is very hardy and usually matures in five to 10 months. Seed is usually sown in the November to December period for planting out in January, although they can be set out later in areas where winter conditions are not so severe.

The criterion to apply when selecting plants for planting out should be to choose only healthy, well balanced specimens with a good root system. Blind, weak and spindly plants should be discarded. Blind plants are those which do not have a growing point. Plants should be well hardened off, 75 to 100 mm in height, and should be firmly planted in the soil to about the junction of the lowest leaves.

Also to be considered here is the Chinese cabbage, a vegetable which deserves to be grown and used more

in New Zealand. It may be the lack of success in growing it that has kept it from becoming a more general home garden choice. It will not grow well in poor soils and under hot, dry conditions it will tend to bolt. Under good growing conditions, Chinese cabbage will

mature in 70 to 90 days. Spring sowings should be ready for early summer harvesting, and a February sowing can mature before winter.

Cultivars fo Chinese cabbage include Wong Bok, Loonga Bok, and Fire Dragon.