Cabbage Kilaton F1 - Brassica oleracea capitata

The 'Kilaton F1' Cabbage is a superb variety, highly resistant to Clubroot, which produces generous heads of delicious leaves in autumn. Highly appreciated in the UK, this cabbage has been awarded by the prestigious Royal Horticultural Society for its high quality. It can be sown from April to June for a harvest in October and November.

The Savoy Cabbage or Drumhead Cabbage is a popular leafy vegetable in the vegetable garden. Its generous heads are loved for both their flavour and appearance.

Also known as Drumhead Cabbage or Savoy Cabbage (in Latin Brassica oleracea capitata, capitata meaning "head"), this beautiful vegetable belongs to the large family of Brassicaceae (formerly Cruciferae). Originally from Europe, it is a biennial plant grown as an annual that produces a more or less compact head, which can be round, slightly flattened, or sharply conical in pointed varieties. The Savoy cabbage leaves are smooth and vary depending on the variety: from very light green, almost white, to dark green, sometimes slightly bluish, or red-tinged with violet to nearly black.

Cabbage, although emblematic of winter, can be sown and harvested almost all year round. Varieties are generally grouped into three main categories: spring cabbages that are harvested from late April to June, summer and autumn cabbages for the period from July, and winter cabbages that, along with leeks and parsnips, allow you to wait until the first spring harvests.

Savoy cabbage can be consumed raw or cooked. It can be shredded for salads, braised to accompany meat and fish dishes, stuffed, or used in soups and sauerkraut. There are plenty of recipes, both in traditional and modern cuisine.

From a dietary point of view, it is remarkable: it has low energy value but is very rich in vitamins C, B6, and B9. It also contains a lot of fibre and minerals like calcium.

In the vegetable garden, it is easy to grow if you meet its requirements: deep soil, excellent fertilisation, and regular moisture. It thrives in sunny locations and generally prefers cool and rainy climates.

NB: This variety is labelled F1 for "F1 hybrid" because it results from the cross-breeding of carefully selected parents to combine their qualities. This results in a variety that can be flavourful and early while resistant to certain diseases. Sometimes criticised or wrongly associated with GMOs, F1 hybrid seeds are attractive for their uniformity and resistance, but unfortunately, their qualities are not passed on to the next generations, so it will not be possible to save the seeds for future sowing.

Harvest: It is done when the cabbage forms a nice head before the leaves turn yellow. It is harvested by cutting just below the head with a knife.

Storage: Savoy cabbage can be kept in the refrigerator for several days. It can also be frozen well after being blanched in salted boiling water. Winter varieties can also be left in the ground. Finally, the preparation of sauerkraut (lacto-fermentation) allows for the flavourful preservation of white-headed autumn varieties.

Gardener's tip: Don't forget the flowers! Even though the vegetable garden is primarily for producing quality vegetables, it is always interesting to have flowers. Firstly, for the aesthetic pleasure they provide, especially for beautiful vegetables like cabbage, but also to repel pests and attract valuable pollinators. So, don't hesitate to plant Gaillardias, Marigolds, Zinnias, Cosmos, Nasturtiums, or even beautiful aromatic herbs like Dill in the middle of the rows or at the edge of the bed. However, be cautious with some plants, even though they are helpful, like Borage, which tends to self-seed abundantly in dedicated cultivation spaces.