Helping You Become a More Successful Gardener
Plant Search
Nancy Engel
Brassicaceae
BRASSICA oleracea 'Early Jersey Wakefield'( Capitata Group)
Cabbage, Early Jersey Wakefield Cabbage
This heirloom cabbage was imported from England and first grown in the United States in 1840 by Francis Brill of Jersey City, New Jersey. The unique heads are conical or tear-shaped and mature 60 to 75 days after sowing from seedlings. Mature heads are densely packed with few spreading, leathery, blue-green outer leaves and many relatively thin, paler green inner leaves. Flavor is sweet and robust but warm temperatures quickly cause the flavor to turn unpleasantly strong. Expect each mature cabbage head to weigh between 3 and 4 pounds (1 to 2 kg).
Cabbages are categorized by their texture and color. Most have smooth, ribbed, somewhat leathery leaves with a strong pungent flavor. These can be green (from pale grassy to deep emerald, often with blue overtones) or red (with burgundy-purple hues predominant). Savoy cabbages are distinct in having heavily crinkled, thin, mildly flavored leaves. Most cabbages have an outer layer of larger, spreading, more deeply hued "wrapper" leaves. Cabbages also vary markedly in size and days to harvest, with early-maturing varieties bearing much smaller heads than later ones. Vigor and flavor decline with heat. Although cool weather enhances flavor, plants may flower (or "bolt") in extended chilly spells. Cabbage heads may split if not harvested promptly. Somewhat cold-hardy, cabbages can be grown as a winter vegetable in areas such as the Lower Southeast United States and western California.
This cool weather crop prefers full sun and fertile, organic-rich garden soil with ample drainage. Plant seed or transplants in early spring, or in summer for fall or winter harvest. For an extended harvest, plant both early- and late-cropping varieties. Plants may produce a second crop of side sprouts from the "stumps" of the harvested heads.
Cabbages are rewarding to grow and well worth the effort. As with all members of Brassica oleracea, they are susceptible to a number of pests, including cabbage loopers and several other types of caterpillars.
6 - 1
7 - 11
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Vegetable
Full Sun, Partial Sun
12"-18" / 30.5cm - 45.7cm
16"-20" / 40.6cm - 50.8cm
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer
Southern Europe, Western Europe, Mediterranean
Acidic, Neutral
Well Drained
Loam, Sand
Fast
Average Water
Rosette/Stemless
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Showy
Yellow
Light Green, Blue Green
Yes
No
Single
Bold
Matte
Semi-Evergreen
Container, Edible, Herb / Vegetable
Butterflies
© 2006-2021 Preferred Commerce. All Rights Reserved.
