Growing pointed cabbage in your own garden: We present suitable varieties and give tips and tricks from sowing, care and fertilization to harvest.

Pointed
The pointed cabbage has very tender leaves

The pointed cabbage (also known as pointed cabbage) is a close relative of the white cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata). The special thing about this cabbage representative is its very tender leaves. However, this fragile cabbage structure has a negative effect on its storage life. Pointed cabbage can therefore often only be kept for just under a week, depending on the variety. Wrapped in a damp cloth, the tender cabbage can be stored in the fridge for a few days without losing its bite. The crunchy cabbage leaves are particularly popular when preparing raw vegetable salads, vegetable snacks and, regionally, also for hearty cabbage noodles. The pointed heads of cabbage are valued by gourmets for their high vitamin content, mineral content and low calorific value. Another advantage is the easy digestibility compared to other conspecifics. Growing pointed cabbage is worthwhile for hobby gardeners, as it is a very easy-care plant that produces fresh cabbages early in the gardening season.

Growing pointed cabbage - this is how it works step by step:

  1. Choose the right variety. We have put together some recommendations for pointed cabbage varieties for you:
    • Varieties with harvest time from the end of May:
      • First: as the name suggests, it is a very early variety; rapid growth ideal for spring cultivation; from January the seedling is brought forward and transplanted into the garden in March.
    • Harvest from September:
      • Caraflex tolerant (F1): pointed heads weighing 1-2 kg; the taste is very delicate; the crunchy leaves are particularly recommended for raw vegetable salads.
      • Kalibos: a handsome combination of pointed and red cabbage with beautiful reddish-purple heads that can weigh around 1 kilo; however, the shelf life of this type of cabbage is very limited.
    • Other hardy varieties:
      • Hilds Ideal: high yield; extremely robust against frost; early sowing recommended.
  1. If you want to harvest "early cabbage" in your garden in May, then you must sow in January. A bright window sill is best suited for this.
  2. Sunny beds are particularly good for the delicate cabbage plant. A slightly shady location is also acceptable, but the harvest will be significantly better if the cabbage can enjoy more hours of sunshine. A loose soil like a bit loamy with sufficient nutrients is appreciated by this heavy feeder. If the garden soil is sandy, you can improve the hollow with compost, manure and horn shavings before planting.
  3. When planting out, you should ensure sufficient distance, we recommend about 40-80 cm. The young plants should definitely be protected from frost overnight with a fleece cover. The preferred early cabbage plants come outdoors at the beginning of March. Later varieties can be planted out in the garden in May or June.
  4. During the growth phase you should regularly loosen the soil around the plant with a hoe. Pointed cabbage is one of the hoe plants: regular loosening of the soil promotes growth and yield enormously.
  5. During dry summer periods you will need to water regularly. Fertilize with a nitrogen and potassium-rich fertilizer such as our Plantura organic tomato fertilizer. Our tip: Stop using fertilizer at least a month before the start of the harvest, as this gives the pointed cabbage a sulphurous taste.
  6. Early varieties of pointed cabbage can bring the first crunchy heads of cabbage from your own garden as early as the end of May if you sow them early. Late-ripening varieties can be harvested into autumn.

Important tip: The location of the pointed cabbage should not be used for growing cabbage for at least four years. This is necessary to counteract diseases.

The pointed cabbage is closely related to the white cabbage. You can find out how to grow it in your own garden in our special article.

Category:

Vegetables