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Cabbage - Early Jersey Wakefield

SKU: CA24006A
CA$3.90
CA$3.90
Unavailable
per item
Approximately 315 seeds per gram.
Brassica oleracea
Lot# CA24006
Early Jersey Cabbage is an heirloom variety that had its’ beginnings in England. It is early maturing and quickly produces large, dense, elongated 13-18cm (6-7") heads.  They have a distinct sweet flavor and crisp texture that is ideal for eating raw in salads and slaws, cooking, or pickling.  The tightly wrapped conical heads have a small core and can weigh between 1-1.3 kg (2-3 lb) each.  Plants can grow as tall as 26-39cm (10-15″) with a 1 m (3’) wide spread.
Planting Instructions:  
  • Sow indoors beginning in March and transplant outdoors from April to the end of July.  Sow 3 or 4 seeds per pot, 5-12mm (¼-½") deep, under very bright light. Cabbage seedlings are ready for transplanting when they are between 6-8cm (2½-3”) high. Thin to the strongest plant.  Water the day before moving, and keep well-watered until established.  Plant firmly, close together for small heads, spacing transplants around 30-45cm (12-18”) apart.  Remove any yellow leaves.  For larger cabbages, space transplants 45-60cm (18-24") apart in rows 60-90cm (24-36") apart.  Needs cool temperatures to head properly-will bolt in heat.  Keeping soil evenly moist is a must for a healthy crop.
  • Soil Conditions:  Well worked rich, loose well-drained soil. Ideal pH: 5.0-7.0.
  • Planting Depth:   5-12mm (¼-½") deep. Space transplants 20-30cm (8-12") apart in rows 60-91cm (24-36") apart.  .
  • Germination:  4-7 days.
  • Height at Maturity: 20-30cm (8-12”) tall.  Spread is about 20-30cm (8-12”).
  • Days to Maturity:   60-75 days.
  • Watering:    Cabbage requires a steady supply of water.   An inch of water a week ensures good growth, whether vegetables are grown in single or wide rows. The amount of rain that falls during the week affects how much you should water your garden.   
  • Sun/Shade:  Full Sun      Can tolerate some shade.
  • Spacing after Thinning:  Space transplants 45-60cm (18-24") apart in rows 60-90cm (24-36") apart.
Additional Information
Given cool weather and adequate moisture, cabbage is easy to grow. Spurts of hot weather can yield split heads or rotten interiors. In the South, cabbage can be grown in the winter months; in cooler zones it does well as a spring or fall crop. Early cabbages can be ready to eat in 50-60 days, while the big varieties that are grown for winter storage need up to 85 days after transplanting.
​Cabbages are heavy feeders, requiring a rich organic soil, well-fortified with compost and organic fertilizer. Cabbages suffer if the soil doesn't provide sufficient phosphorous and calcium.  For spring planting, start cabbage seeds indoors about 6 weeks before the last frost date in your area. The plants will tolerate cold, and seedlings can go into the garden as soon as the soil is dry enough to be worked and is 40F or more. Late season storage cabbages need to be started and planted later.The roots of cabbage are shallow and can be easily damaged. The best way to prevent that is to surround the plants with a 2-3 inch layer of shredded leaves, newspaper or straw. Cabbages want consistently cool, moist soil and this mulch will help ensure they enjoy ideal growing conditions.
Cabbage comes in only two colors; red and green.   There are two leaf types for cabbage; smooth and puckered or savoyed.    Finally, there are two maturity dates as well; early or late.  Among other characteristics they have several shapes from round to flat and pointed.  All cabbage varieties have a similar flavor and texture.
To harvest cabbages, slice off the cabbage as high on the stalk as you can. The stub will often produce little baseball-sized cabbages, particularly if you cut an X on the top of the stem.