Organic Cabbage Chana F1 plugs - Brassica oleracea

The Bio Chana F1 cabbage is a rewarding and easy hybrid variety to grow in a family vegetable garden, suitable for gardeners of all levels. It is an early variety that produces a tall and compact head, weighing between 0.8 and 1 kg, fully filled to the top, with smooth green-blue leaves. The mini vegetable plugs of this variety are certified organic. They can be planted from February-March to June for a harvest from August to November. Planting-harvest cycle: 60-75 days in spring, 160 days in autumn.

Cabbage or Smooth-leafed Cabbage is a very popular leafy vegetable. It is a must-have in the vegetable garden and is loved for its flavor as well as the generous size of its heads. It belongs to the large family of Brassicaceae (formerly Cruciferae), like other Cabbages: Cauliflower, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Savoy Cabbage, Green Cabbage, Red Cabbage, Chinese Cabbage, etc.

The Cabbage has the Latin name Brassica oleracea capitata, with 'capitata' meaning 'head'. Originally from Europe, it is a biennial plant grown as an annual. It produces a more or less tight head, which can be round, slightly flattened, or distinctly conical in pointed varieties. The leaves of the Cabbage are smooth and their color varies depending on the variety: from very light green, almost white, to dark green, sometimes slightly bluish, or from red tinged with purple to almost black.

The Cabbage, although emblematic of winter, can be harvested almost year-round. Cabbage varieties are generally grouped into three main categories: spring Cabbages, which are harvested from late April to June, summer and autumn Cabbages, which are harvested from July to November, and winter Cabbages, which, along with leeks and parsnips, allow you to wait until the first spring harvests.

In the kitchen: Cabbage can be eaten raw or cooked. It can be grated in salads, braised to accompany meat and fish dishes, stuffed, or used in soups and sauerkraut. There are plenty of recipes, both traditional and modern.

From a dietary point of view, it is remarkable: it has low energy value but is rich in vitamins C, B6, and B9. It also contains a lot of fibre and minerals such as calcium.

In the vegetable garden, Cabbage is an easy vegetable to grow as long as you meet its requirements: deep soil, excellent fertilisation, and regular moisture. It thrives in sunny locations and generally does well in cool and rainy climates.

Harvest: It is done when the Cabbage forms a nice head and before the leaves start to turn yellow. Simply cut just below the head with a knife. This variety can be harvested from August to November.

Storage: Cabbage can be kept in the refrigerator for several days. It can also be frozen after blanching in salted boiling water. Winter varieties can also be left in the ground. Finally, making sauerkraut (lacto-fermentation) is a tasty way to preserve autumn varieties with white heads.

Gardener's tip: Don't forget the flowers! Even though the vegetable garden is primarily for producing quality vegetables, it is always interesting to plant flowers. While the beauty of certain vegetables like Cabbage is enough on its own, flowers will enhance the aesthetic appeal of the vegetable garden and also help repel pests and attract valuable pollinators. So, don't hesitate to plant Gaillardias, Marigolds, Zinnias, Cosmos, Nasturtiums, or beautiful herbs like Dill in the middle of the rows or along the edges. However, be cautious of certain plants, like Borage, which tend to self-seed abundantly in dedicated growing spaces.