Types of cabbage at a glance
Cabbage is a real all-rounder in the vegetable garden: healthy, versatile and mostly hardy. The cabbage family is huge – from firm white cabbage through tender kohlrabi to fine cauliflower and robust kale. This overview shows you the most important types and their uses.
Broadly, one distinguishes head and leaf cabbages from the flowering and sprouting cabbages.
In short
- Head/leaf cabbages: white, red, savoy, pointed, kale, Chinese cabbage, pak choi.
- Flowering/sprouting cabbages: cauliflower, broccoli, romanesco, Brussels sprouts, kohlrabi.
- Almost all cabbages are heavy feeders and love nutrient-rich soil.
- An insect-proof net reliably protects against the cabbage white.
Head and leaf cabbages
Head and leaf cabbages include white and red cabbage (storable, for sauerkraut and salad), the tender savoy cabbage, the quick pointed cabbage, the hardy kale as well as the Asian Chinese cabbage and pak choi.
Flowering and sprouting cabbages
| Cabbage type | Harvest time | Special feature |
|---|---|---|
| Cauliflower | summer–autumn | fine white curd |
| Broccoli | summer–autumn | produces side shoots |
| Romanesco | autumn | decorative, nutty |
| Brussels sprouts | autumn–winter | hardy, mild after frost |
| Kohlrabi | spring–autumn | fast, raw & cooked |
Cultivation in brief
Cabbage is a heavy feeder and needs nutrient-rich, firm soil as well as sufficient water. Because of the high nutrient demand, cabbage stands at the start of the crop rotation (after compost). The most important protection: an insect-proof net against the cabbage white and the cabbage fly. Do not grow brassicas in the same spot year after year.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my cauliflower not form heads?
Common causes are drought, nutrient deficiency or heat. Even supply is decisive.
Is kale really only harvested after frost?
Frost is not strictly necessary, but makes it milder and sweeter – you can also harvest earlier.
Tip
Put an insect-proof net on right at planting – this way the cabbage white and the cabbage fly have no chance from the start.
Caution
Do not plant cabbage after cabbage: clubroot and other soil-borne diseases otherwise accumulate and can destroy whole stands.
From kohlrabi to kale, you will find strong cabbage young plants with us – robustly pre-grown and ready to plant.