Grow Your Own Magazine

I've had some red cabbages in the ground since April, they look healthy enough - lots of leaf and the plants are nice and big but none of them appear to be forming hearts. Having never grown them before I'm not sure if this is normal or not, can anyone advise me please?

Thanks.

Welcome to the Vine HIL. Brassicas / cabbage like firm ground and the conventional wisdom says they won't heart up in loose ground.
BUT - last year I grew them in new raised beds. To begin with they looked like yours - loose leaved - then they did heart up. If you only planted them in April there is plenty of time for them to heart up. Patience solves most problems. Good luck.

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From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.

Still plenty of time for them to heart up yet. Mine have been in since early March and are just starting to show signs of hearting up.

Ian

That's great news, thanks Alice (for your welcome as well as your advice) and gojiberry also. That's given me some new hope!

I grew the mini red cabbages last year and they took ages to heart up...not substantially I must say (I think they were a little close together and a little loose in the ground) but they eventually did. Just remember to pick them before the pigeons do!!!