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Savoy cabbage: due to its high vitamin and mineral content, it can make an important contribution to a he althy and conscious diet.
The savoy cabbage (Brassica oleracea convar. capitata var. sabauda) belongs to the cabbage family and is particularly closely related to white cabbage. A special detail of savoy is probably the wavy texture of its leaves, which probably also caused its discoverers to ponder. So it is not surprising why so many names for the type of cabbage exist and are used synonymously, such as: Savoy cabbage, savoy cabbage, borschkraut, butter cabbage and Savoyard cabbage, Milanese cabbage, long-stay cabbage, Wirz (CH), chou de Milan (FR ) and savoy cabbage. Savoy cabbage is available all year round. In spring the heads are light green (so-called early savoy cabbage), later varieties are usually dark green. Due to the good storability of the late varieties, the somewhat uncharming term "savoy cabbage" has also been established for them.
The already mentioned characteristic curling of the leaves is due to rapid growth phases. Leaf tissue grows while leaf veins lag behind in growth. In the case of savoy cabbage, the corrugation also explains the loose packing of the cabbage head.
Savoy cabbage: a grateful companion for the hobby gardener
Savoy cabbage can be grown in your own garden and is a tasty vegetable in late autumn and winter when tomatoes, peppers etc. have already been harvested. Savoy generally grows a little faster than other types of cabbage and can be planted later or harvested earlier. In culture, too, it proves to be somewhat more robust than its relatives. This makes it an ideal start for the hobby gardener when it comes to growing cabbage. For detailed information, we refer to our step-by-step guide: Growing savoy cabbage: sowing, care and harvest time.
Savoy cabbage is divided into early, medium and late ripening varieties
You can find a comprehensive overview of varieties here: Savoy cabbage: the right varieties forChoose Grow.
- Alaska (F1): late savoy variety with finely curled and tightly packed cabbage heads; ideal for storage and wintering outdoors.
- Goldvital: medium ripening variety; finely curled and fresh green leaves with a delicate consistency and intense flavor. Syn: butter cabbage.
- Marner Grüfewi: robust savoy variety with dark green leaves and finely curled cabbage heads; particularly easy to store; survives winter outdoors even in harsh regions.
- Samantha (F1): new breed of savoy cabbage and pointed cabbage; Savoy cabbage Samantha is particularly popular because of its fine and mild taste; the pointed heads can be harvested between the end of August and the end of November.
- Smaragd: vigorous and medium short-stemmed variety with deep green and heavily curled leaves; good for storage but not suitable for overwintering outdoors in local latitudes.
- Vertus: late variety with dark green, finely curled leaves and firm cabbage heads.
- Herald 3: very early variety with high cold tolerance; advanced plants can be planted out early. Despite the firm heads, this variety is not suitable for storage.
Diseases and Pests
Savoy cabbage is plagued by the common pests that afflict almost all types of cabbage. These include the cabbage fly, the cabbage white and the dreaded clubroot. Young plants can also be affected by slugs.
Harvest and Storage
Although savoy cabbage does not keep as long as red and white cabbage, late storage varieties can also be stored for several weeks. Some varieties are particularly resistant to frost and can spend the winter outdoors. The heads can be gradually harvested and consumed. After a long storage period, however, it is better to remove the outer binders, as these are usually a little limp and therefore no longer usable.
Ingredients and Use
If you buy savoy cabbage, you should make sure that as many of the dark green binders as possible are still there. Fresh savoy cabbage can be recognized by the rattling noise it makes when shaken. It is particularly valued for its very high vitamin C, vitamin B6 and mineral content. With around 30 kilocalories per 100g fresh weight, it is also very low in calories. The mustard oil glycosides it contains also have a he alth-promoting effect. They are said to have an inhibitory effect on bacteria, viruses and fungi in the body.
But savoy cabbage is not only convincing in terms of he alth: The curly leaves are also particularly delicate in taste compared to other types of cabbage. Pan-fried, it can be used as an accompaniment to hearty dishes or stews. The leaves are also popular as a base for cabbage wraps.