Grow Your Own Magazine

2 of my cabbages are covered in brown leaves
They seem ok beneath these. Do I "uncover the healthy bit or pull them oreat them now!!!!

I'm no expert in cabbages Stroppy Scotte, but a bird in the hand is worth 2 in the bush. I'd have them out, get rid of the brown stuff, and use the good bits remaining.

Thanks Alice
Should the wind die down I will do that!!!
Fresh cabbage for dinner over the weekend methinks.

several of our spring cabbage had yellow leaves at the base last weekend, so I think we should be eating them to, it just seems a bit early. As you say though Alice, 'a bird in the hand'..

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Regards, Jane
What sane person could live in this world and not be crazy? The creative adult is the child who has survived.
Ursula LeGuin
http://www.etribes.com/madderbat

I read somewhere (can't remember where though ) that its a good idea to earth up cabbages right up to the base of the first leaves. I suppose this will stop them rocking in the wind, does anyone else do this and what are the benefits ?

When planting cabbages (or any other young plants) I always put them in the ground with the lowest leaves at soil level and firm them in. Earthing up is supposed to help with cabbages (and sweetcorn) but if on an open allotment this soil is bound to be less firm and the only benefit I can see is that the plants may put additional roots into the soil. Tomatoes certainly do, and I usually plant them into pots in the greenhouse with quite a bit of space at the top of the pots. I then top the pots up with compost throughout the growing season.

When transplanting, I do like rustylady and pop the plantlets in right up to the bottom seed leaves. Growth will happen and stems get longer, so I keep mulching them, with e.g. manure, compost, seaweed or nourishing mulches rather than simply soil improvers e.g. straw, leaves and spent hops. Seems to improve growth (less wind rock?) and reduce damage to their leaves by airborne critters compared with e.g. the ones grown through black plastic that were left unmulched.

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SSx
not every situation requires a big onion

I haven't had much luck with growing cabbages before, though I had always planted them deep enough. Lack of water and insect damage has usually been the main problems. I have "earthed" them up a bit like spuds so hopefully this may help.

Id leave them alone untill your ready to harvest then cut and peel of brown leaves they will protect the head until your ready for them