Winter Cabbage Flashcards
1
Q
Explain site selection and soil requirements for winter cabbages.
A
- Well-drained, moisture-retentive, fertile soil
- Full sun to half shade
- Don’t like fresh manure
- Clay to loamy clay is best
- Require a firm seedbed
- Apply garden lime at 300-400g/m2 before cultivation to get pH below 6.5 (prevents clubroot).
2
Q
Explain cultivation of soil for winter cabbages.
A
- Prepare soil well in advance as they don’t like freshly manured soil
- Dig in well-rotted organic matter in autumn
- Prepare a seedbed (to a fine tilth) separate to the plot into which they’ll be transplanted
- Pay particular attention to irrigation of young plants, keeping them well watered until established
- Apply nitrogen fertiliser like Hoof & Horn at 130g/m2 in late summer if required
- Hoe frequently between plants
- Can benefit from mulch in summer.
3
Q
Explain sowing of winter cabbage.
A
- Seed sown thinly in May
- Seedbed drills of 13mm deep
- Rows 15cm apart
- Water thoroughly prior to sowing
- Thin seedlings to 7cm apart
- Take 10-14 days to germinate
- Plant out when 10-15cm high
- Space 45cm apart in rows 60cm apart
INDOORS
- Can be sown in unheated glasshouse or polytunnel
- Sow in trays in loam-based compost
- Prick out into individual modules
- Plant out when 10cm high.
4
Q
Explain harvesting of winter cabbage.
A
Individual heads are cut as required throughout the winter months.
5
Q
Name a pest and a disease of winter cabbage, including symptoms and control methods.
A
Clubroot
- Slimy mouldy fungus, particularly effects seedlings
- Reduced vigour, chlorosis, wilting, distorted roots
- Improve drainage; Apply lime on acid soils.
Cabbage White Butterfly
- 25cm long yellow or green caterpilar with black markings
- Defoliate plants quickly
- Encourage birds; introduce predatory wasp; use pyrethroids; use netting; use insecticide; remove eggs.
6
Q
Name three cultivars of winter cabbage.
A
- ‘Duncan’ F1
- ‘Regency’ F1
- ‘Red Rookie’ F1.
