Brassica oleracea

Cultivation

Grow from seedlings, similar like cabbage.

Distance between plants

At least 50 cm (20 in) between rows and at least 50 cm (20 in) between plants in a row – or less for smaller Savoy cabbage heads.

Location

Sunny to half-shade.

Amount

Approx. five plants per person.

Time of planting

From March to mid June. It germinates in 10 days.

Fertilization

Fertilize with barn manure or home compost. Grow in the first field. If you fertilize with nitrogen, stop at the end of August or when the plants start to form heads. In September, use foliage fertilizer with potassium and calcium.

Watering

It doesn’t need watering, except when transplanted in drought.

Savoy cabbage’s good neighbors

Beans, peas, Swiss chard, broad beans, potatoes, lettuce, celery, spinach.

Savoy cabbage’s bad neighbors

Onion, tomatoes.

Diseases and pests

It is not sensitive. It only gets attacked by black rot of crucifers. Don’t store the affected plants. It is good to regularly till the soil, prevent the keeping of water, water with algae brew and not to plant crucifers in the same place for four years.

Savoy cabbage’s storage

Cut regularly when needed. Its flavor develops better when the plant is caught by the first winter cold. Store in the garden as long as possible, in mild winter even until January. It can be planted in sand in a moist basement or wrapped in moist paper towels and stored in crates to last until spring.

Food

Use the leaves. Because of their high vitamin and mineral content they are an important part of the winter menu.

Important

The earlier sorts are ripe in 60 days, the latest ones in 180 days. Due to its resistance to cold it can be cultivated for late fall or winter use.

Miscellaneous

It is similar to cabbage in form and in cultivating method as well. It can survive cold easier due to its wrinkled leaves, even if the outer ones turn black.