Brassica oleracea (Cabbage Group)
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- BRAS-ih-ka ol-ur-RAY-see-uh
- Description
-
This group of hybrids contains pointed, flat and round cabbages that are biennials but grown as annuals. They are descendants of wild cabbage and have been hybridized for centuries in Europe and spread to the Americas and Asia..
Cabbages are cool-weather plants and are best grown in full sun in amended, well-drained moist garden soils. Get a soil test before planting and fertilize according to recommendations. Seeds can be started indoors and transplanted to the garden in late summer for a fall or winter crop. A second crop can be obtained from an early spring planting.
Cabbages are grown for the dense head of leaves produced during the first year. There are many varieties with leaves ranging from smooth to crinkled and light green to reddish. Shapes can be rounded, oval to pointed. They can be eaten raw or cooked and have the best flavor after a frost. There are many hybrids available in various sizes shapes and colors.
North Carolina is ranked 5th for commercial cabbage production.
Grow cabbage in the edible garden or mixin the perennials for winter interest.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Insects issued include aphids, cabbage webworm, cabbage white butterflies and cabbage loopers. See pests of crucifers to the left.
The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common Cole crop diseases and other plant problems.
More information on Brassica oleracea
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Edibles, Bulbs, and Houseplants" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Bronco '
Adaptable and reliable 3-5 lb heads - Conqueror
Round heads 4-8 lbs - 'Famosa'
Blue gree heads with crinkled edges 2-4 lbs - 'Piccadilly'
Early pointe heads are sweet and tender - 'Ruby Perfection'
A round red variety - 'Tiara'
Smaller tender heads 1-2 lbs
- 'Bronco '
- 'Bronco ', Conqueror, 'Famosa', 'Piccadilly', 'Ruby Perfection', 'Tiara'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Bronco '
Adaptable and reliable 3-5 lb heads - Conqueror
Round heads 4-8 lbs - 'Famosa'
Blue gree heads with crinkled edges 2-4 lbs - 'Piccadilly'
Early pointe heads are sweet and tender - 'Ruby Perfection'
A round red variety - 'Tiara'
Smaller tender heads 1-2 lbs
- 'Bronco '
- 'Bronco ', Conqueror, 'Famosa', 'Piccadilly', 'Ruby Perfection', 'Tiara'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Brassica
- Species:
- oleracea
- Family:
- Brassicaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Edible
- Life Cycle:
- Biennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Coastal Mediterranean, W Europe N to France & Brittan
- Edibility:
- The leaves are edible.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 10 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Cool Season Vegetable
- Edible
- Vegetable
- Habit/Form:
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
-
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Siliqua
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Flower Shape:
- Cross
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Four-petaled flowers in fall or winter
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Fleshy
- Waxy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Other/more complex
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Undulate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves can be thick, light green to reddish and smooth to crinkled.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Problems:
- Problem for Horses
