Planning and ordering seeds in winter involves deciding on the crop variety, checking which ones performed well in past seasons, and choosing a reliable supplier, preferably offering organic seeds. Potentially damaging factors like dealing with disease-prone varieties it’s best to use F1 varieties and staying away from today’s controversial genetically modified (GMO). Some companies sell seeds with fungicides that destroy soil microorganisms, shifting you away from organic growing. The advice emphasizes awareness of seed viability and endorsements against using harmful GMO seeds.
Growing Collard Greens is simple and rewarding due to their high nutritional value. These leafy vegetables prefer cool weather and are adaptable to a range of soil pH levels. They are susceptible to common cabbage family pests and diseases but can be protected with a floating row cover and crop rotation. For optimal taste, harvest them after the first frost.
Growing kohlrabi among other plants in early spring.
Growing kohlrabi, a hardy biennial member of the cabbage family. Kohlrabi is considered one of the healthiest foods, suitable for raw or cooked consumption. Similar to kale leaves, its leaves can be added to your smoothie.
How to grow Kohlrabi
Kohlrabi is a cool-season plant that is easy to grow. You can start from seedlings in February in the Northeast, or six to eight weeks before the last spring frost. Alternatively, you can directly seed it as early as two weeks before the last spring frost. It requires good drainage or a raised bed and should be planted as soon as the ground can be worked, similar to peas in a south-facing area.
If you plant it later in the season, it will survive the hot summer if mulched and the soil is kept moist. Kohlrabi can be planted later in the summer for a fall crop. You can do several succession plantings starting in late summer until a month before the last frost. Kohlrabi does survive a light frost.
It requires full sun but does tolerate some light shade. Add lots of organic matter, as it is considered a heavy feeder. The pH should be around 7.0 though it will tolerate a wider range from pH 6.0 to pH 7.5. As a heavy feeder, it should be watered once a week with compost tea (see blog on Compost tea) for proper fertilization. See video Apply compost/garden tea
Spacing
Plants should be set around six inches apart and the rows about fourteen inches apart in regular beds. If you are using a raised bed about ten to twelve inches apart.
For crop rotation purposes, you can plant it in the same bed or area with other cabbage family members like broccoli, mustard greens, and kale. To learn more about this family see blog on Growing cabbages This way, you can move the whole family to a different section of the garden to facilitate a three year rotation.
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Harvesting
The plants can be purple or green but the interior of the bulb is white. The plant has small cabbage plant leaves with a pregnant stem. The stem develops a bulb at the base of the plant the size of a turnip. Once the bulb reaches about three inches thick, you can harvest it. The bulb starts to get woody and can crack when left past four inches in thickness. Peel the outer skin and eat the bulb raw.
Pest
All the pest and diseases that attack the rest of the family will attack kohlrabi. These include cabbage worms, cabbage loopers, cutworms, cabbage root maggots, aphids, flea beetles, slugs and snails, and nematodes. There are several diseases that attack this family, like downy mildew, bacterial mildew and soft rot, among others.
A good summary of the many vegetables that can be planted in the fall. In addition, there are links to blogs on the various vegetables for greater details.
Delicious, Nutritious Turnips- Not Just a Root but Amazing Greens. When we think of growing turnips, we naturally think of the root crop. The reality is that turnips are probably one of the most nutritious vegetables you can possibly eat. Therefore, how to grow turnips …
Cabbages – are used as a detoxifying agent in many cultures. Cabbage has lots of fiber and can be eaten raw, cooked, or fermented into sauerkraut. It has very few calories and highly beneficial to the body. Cabbage belongs to the Brassica Family, along with broccoli, cauliflower, kohlrabi, kale, collards, among others.
This gardener can grow cabbages! She makes amazing coleslaw
How to grow cabbages
A cool season vegetable that prefers full sun, but will tolerate some light shade.
They need regular moisture of 1” to 1.5” of water per week for optimum growth.
Susceptible to the same insects and diseases, which are several, as the rest of the family. Crop rotation, must include the whole family.
Tolerant of light frost.
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Different types
Green cabbage, red cabbage, savoy cabbage, Chinese cabbage.
Some are smooth leaved, like the green or red cabbages.
The savoy cabbage has curly leaves.
Chinese cabbage forms spiky heads.
They will vary in size according to the variety but it is also dependent on the amount of water, and the level of nutrition of the soil.
Some cabbages grow to eight pounds (two feet high with a three foot spread).
Others get much larger if lots of water and good soil and nutrition are provided.
Read about growing broccoli another members of the cabbage family.
Seeds and Planting Times
The seeds of cabbage can germinate in cool temperatures as low as 45°F and as high as 85°F. Start seeds indoors for 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost in the spring. These spring plantings will be ready for harvesting from June to July, depending on the variety. The short season varieties can grow to have from 1 lb. to 3 lb. heads.
If you choose to direct seed, then do so as soon as the ground can be worked and the soil temperature is at 40°F. You can choose short season varieties for the spring and longer season varieties for the fall. You can start seedlings in mid-June or early July for a fall crop and keep them under partial shade. Read more about starting your own seedlings by clicking here.
Red cabbage
Transplanting
Transplant are kept at the same root level as the original one. The stem can’t be covered with soil or planted deeper, as it will rot. When transplanting for a fall crop, these seedlings have been grown in a protective environment. It’s best to transplant them on a cloudy day so the shock of full sun doesn’t wilt them or burn them.
Mulching
Cabbages must be mulch to have a successful crop. The roots tend to run close to the surface and can therefore dry out quickly or be injured when weeding. Straw mulch will keep weeds down and conserve moisture.
Maintenance
Cabbage takes a lot of nutrient from the soil. Add a side dressing of organic fertilizer once the cabbage heads begins to form, or apply a good dosage of compost tea. Apply compost tea once a week once the head starts to form.
Check the underside of leaves for caterpillars often, to keep pest infestation at a minimum. See video on how to prevent insect infestations.
Harvesting
You can harvest any time after the heads have formed. To test the head formation, just squeeze the head and feel how large it has developed. They should be harvested as soon as they reach full maturity to prevent splitting or cracking after it rains.
When harvesting the head, cut close to the center or middle of the plant, leaving some of the outer leaves of the plant behind. Smaller heads or sprouts may develop at this base by the axil of the leaf and stem, usually in your spring crop.
At the end of harvesting, remove roots and all debris to keep insects under control and eliminate further spreading of cabbage worms and wilts.
Growing spinach, a delicious and nutritious vegetable. Spinach is very flavorful and nutrient-rich leafy green vegetable. Spinach has high antioxidant content and anti-cancer properties that and promotes better health. In addition, it is an excellent source of protein, iron and other vitamins and minerals. Temperature …
Fall Production is awesome! Cool weather Crops – most of us feel like, when it comes to gardening, everything ends when the summer ends. In reality, we must look at the coming fall as a spring but better. In the fall certain cool weather crops …
