Growing Organic Vegetables: Growing Mini Cabbage

Latest Update 26th July 2020.

Mini Cabbage

I grow 5 mini Cabbages every month which is about right for our requirements (2 people), and they don't take up as much space as the full sized varieties.
I sow them in one of my propagators, which ensures germination all year round even in the depths of winter and in high summer. Admittedly our climate is mainly mild in winter with only a couple of light frosts most years.
I transplant them in rows between my winter legumes and elsewhere whenever space permits in my veggie beds.
I harvest mini cabbages as needed in the kitchen, prepare the soil in the space left by their removal and plant replacements without delay.
These mini cabbages are surprisingly tasty and are very nutritious containing lots of vitamins and minerals, and are a great source of dietary fibre.
To maximise nutritional benefit, they are best shredded and used fresh in homemade coleslaw or sauerkraut, but we also like them chopped and lightly steamed with salt, pepper and a few herbs from our garden.

Description.

Nutrition.

This food is very low in saturated fat and cholesterol.
It is a good source of thiamin, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium, and a very good source of dietary fibre, vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin B6, folate and manganese.
More from nutrition data.self.com.

This blogpage explains how I maintain healthy plants. It describes how soil is prepared prior to planting, how to regulate the sun's intensity and how to help protect and feed plants through their leaves.

This blogpage tells you when to make compost and plan other garden/household related activities.

Growing Instructions.

Sow a few Cabbage seeds every month in a multi cell seedling tray in a propagator using an organic seed raising mixture. I grow them all in one cell, cover them with sieved homemade compost (about 3mm thick), and firm the compost around the seeds by pressing it down with my fingers.
Water the seeds in well with dilute seaweed extract in rainwater (or filtered tap water). After this initial soaking, keep the seed mix moist but not soaking wet. Don't let it dry out completely though.
Once the seedlings have germinated and begin to grow true leaves, transplant 5 of the strongest individuals into fresh sieved compost each in its own cell.
Once they have grown to 5 or 6 centimeters tall, transplant them into prepared soil.
I use a short length of 50mm diameter rigid PVC tube sharpened at one end to push into the soil where a seedlings is to grow and extract a plug of compost and soil about the size of the seedling's root ball. The seedling is dropped into the hole and watered in with compost extract or dilute seaweed extract in rainwater.

Harvesting and Storage.

Cabbages can be grown all year round in Melbourne although they will need protection from the sun in very hot weather. I grow most of them between rows of climbing beans for shade during the warmer months.
Cut the stalks at ground level when harvesting and remove tough outer leaves. Leave the roots to decompose in the ground and recycle plant residues and spent mulch in the composting system.
If you have a surplus of cabbage, try sauerkraut, stored in preserving jars. Here's how.

Organic Pest Control.

Cabbages, like most vegetables, are vulnerable to attack from certain pests in my garden. My blog on "Controlling Garden Pests" explains a little about these pests and what to do to protect plants from them. For details click on the appropriate link below.

Growing Organic Vegetables