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Cabbage Express Eersteling

Brassica oleracea var. capitata Express Eersteling
Pointed cabbage, Hearted cabbage

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This plant carries a 6 months recovery warranty

More information

'Express Eersteling' cabbage is a spring and autumn variety that quickly produces small conical heads of tender leaves. Excellent flavour. Sow under cover in January-February or in August for harvests from February to May.
Ease of cultivation
Beginner
Height at maturity
30 cm
Spread at maturity
20 cm
Dry resistance
Poor
Germination time (days)
14 days
Sowing method
Direct sowing, Sowing under cover, Sowing under cover with heat
Sowing period January to February, August
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Harvest time January to May
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Description

'Express Eersteling' cabbage is a spring and autumn variety that quickly produces small conical heads of tender leaves. Excellent flavour. Sow under cover in January-February or in August for harvests from February to May.

Cabbage or Brassica oleracea capitata is an attractive, popular leaf vegetable belonging to the large Brassicaceae family (ex-Cole family). This native European biennial plant is generally grown as an annual. Its variably tight hearts can be round, slightly flattened or cone-shaped. The smooth leaves come in a great range of colours: from pale green to dark bluish-green, red, white or even purplish-black. An ornamental, mild-flavoured vegetable that is a real must-have in the kitchen garden!

Although cabbage is often thought of as a winter vegetable, it can be sown and harvested virtually all year-round. Varieties are generally grouped into three main categories: spring cabbages (late April to June); summer and autumn cabbages (July to October); and winter cabbages, which planted alongside leeks and parsnips make the long wait until spring more bearable.

Cabbage can be eaten raw, finely shredded in a salad. It is also very tasty cooked: braised to accompany meat and fish dishes, stuffed with meat or rice, or incorporated into soups. It is the main ingredient in sauerkraut. There are lots of fantastic traditional or new recipes to choose from. From a nutritional point of view, cabbage is remarkable: its energy value is low but it is very rich in vitamins C, B6 and B9; it also contains lots of fibre and minerals such as calcium.

Cabbage is an easy vegetable to grow as long as you meet its basic requirements: deep, rich soil, and regular watering. It enjoys plenty of sun and generally does well in cool and rainy climates.

Harvest: Cabbage heads are ready to be harvested when they form a nicely-shaped heart, before the leaves start to turn yellow. With a sharp knife, cut off the stem just below the head.

Storage: Cabbage can be kept for several days in the refrigerator. It also freezes very well after being blanched in boiling salty water. Winter varieties can be left in place until you are ready to use them. Lacto-fermentation (the process used to make sauerkraut) is another tasty way of preserving white autumn varieties.

Good to know: Even if the vegetable garden is first and foremost a place for growing great quality veg, it’s always a good idea to leave a bit of room for flowers. Growing flowers alongside your vegetable plants will make your general gardening experience more enjoyable and is a great way to attract pollinators and repel garden pests! Flowers such as gaillardia, marigolds, zinnias, cosmos or nasturtiums can be sown in and around the rows of vegetables. Herbs such as dill can be very useful also. Bear in mind that some companion plants self-seed easily and can be a bit invasive (borage, chives, lemon balm etc.)

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Cabbage: planting, sowing and harvest
Family sheet
by Virginie T. 15 min.
Cabbage: planting, sowing and harvest
Read article

Harvest

Harvest time January to May
Type of vegetable Leaf vegetable
Size of vegetable Small
Interest Flavour, Nutritional value

Plant habit

Height at maturity 30 cm
Spread at maturity 20 cm
Growth rate fast

Foliage

Foliage persistence Deciduous
Foliage colour medium green

Botanical data

Genus

Brassica

Species

oleracea var. capitata

Cultivar

Express Eersteling

Family

Brassicaceae

Other common names

Pointed cabbage, Hearted cabbage

Origin

Cultivar or hybrid

Annual / Perennial

Annual

Product reference • 166611

Planting and care

Sowing:

The germination temperature of Express Eersteling Cabbage is around 15°C (minimum 10°C, maximum 30°C) and takes 5 to 14 days.

Sowing period: from January to February and in August

Harvest period: 70 to 85 days later in spring, 180 days later in autumn.

You can sow directly in place or prepare seedlings that will be later transplanted to their final position in the garden.

Seedling preparation: From late autumn to late winter under cover or in a nursery in the garden for the rest of the year (according to the recommended sowing period), sow the seeds at a depth of 1 to 2 cm in a good seed compost or fine soil. Cover lightly with compost and remember to keep the substrate moist but not waterlogged.

When the young plants appear strong enough to handle, transplant them into pots if necessary before transplanting them to the garden when there is no risk of frost. When planting, respect the recommended spacing for direct sowing.

Direct sowing: In well-amended and finely worked soil, make furrows about one or two centimeters deep, spaced one meter apart. Sow the seeds and cover them with a thin layer of fine soil. When the seedlings are well developed, thin them out, leaving one plant every cm or so.

Cultivation:

Cabbage grows in full sun. It is a nutrient-demanding vegetable that requires well-rotted, nitrogen and potassium-rich soil. It is advisable to apply a generous amount of mature compost (approximately 3/4 kg per m2) in autumn, by scratching it into the soil to a depth of 5 cm, after loosening the soil as you would for any vegetable crop. It is not very tolerant of soil pH, which should be between 5.6 and 6.5. In acidic soil, it is necessary to gradually raise the pH by adding calcium in the form of Dolomite or Lime.

It is beneficial to associate cabbage with many other vegetables such as tomatoes, lettuce... But avoid planting it near other Brassicas as well as zucchini, fennel, lamb's lettuce, leeks, and strawberries.

Beware of pests such as Cabbage White butterflies or Flea beetles and consider using insect netting. Cabbage is generally quite susceptible to diseases such as Clubroot, so it is important to practice crop rotation.

Seedlings

Sowing period January to February, August
Sowing method Direct sowing, Sowing under cover, Sowing under cover with heat
Germination time (days) 14 days

Care

Soil moisture Wet
Disease resistance Good
Pruning No pruning necessary

Intended location

Type of use Vegetable garden
Hardiness Hardy down to -29°C (USDA zone 5) Show map
Ease of cultivation Beginner
Exposure Sun
Soil pH Neutral
Soil type Silty-loamy (rich and light), Damp soil

Planting & care advice

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