“Wintergreen Offenham 3” has proven itself as an excellent variety for both spring greens, from February onwards and for early season cabbages. It “hearts up” in April.

Large well-filled dark green heads produce conical leaves on strong plants; the leaves are well flavoured and sweet. The plants are uniform with a heavy crop at first cut and are not prone to bolting.

It is a very popular variety and an ideal tasty vegetable when little else is available.

It has been awarded the prestigious RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM).

Cabbage can be produced throughout the year, providing growers with a continuous supply. These faster-maturing spring greens are ideal for utilising redundant polytunnel or glasshouse space over the winter months.

Prepare the site: All brassica crops grow best in partial-shade, in firm, fertile, free-draining soil. Start digging over your soil as soon as you can brave the elements. Remove any stones you find and work in plenty of well-rotted manure or compost. Tread on the soil to remove air pockets and to make the surface firm. Brassicas will fail if the soil is too acidic; add lime to the soil if necessary, aiming for a pH of 6.5-7.5.

Sowing:
Sow successionally from February to July
Nearly all brassicas should be planted in a seedbed or in modules under glass and then transferred. Seeds should be sown thinly, as this reduces the amount of future thinning necessary and potential risk from pests.

Sow seeds 1.25cm ( ½ “) deep and space 15-20cm (6-8”) between rows.
Once the seeds have germinated, thin the seedlings to 7.5cm (3in) between each plant. After germination, seedlings will often be ‘leggy’, so plant them as deep as possible to really anchor them into the soil.

Cabbage seedlings are ready for transplanting when they are between 6 and 8cm high (2 ½ -3"). Water the day before moving, and keep well-watered until established. Plant firmly, close together for small heads and wider apart for larger cabbages, around 30-45cm (12 to 18””) apart.

Growing:
Clear away any yellow leaves. Feed the plants as they near maturity with a foliar feed.

Harvest:
June to August (through to October)
Earliest heads can be cut, leaving the stump in the ground to produce a second crop of small leafy heads.

Tips:
Brassicas are affected by a wide range of pests and diseases, especially the fungal disease, club root. The roots become stubby and swollen and can develop wet rot, while leaves become yellow and wilt, causing severe stunting of growth. Remove any infected plants from the ground and destroy. Make sure the soil is adequately limed and well drained.

Rotate your crops annually to avoid disease. Don't grow brassicas on the same plot more often than one year in three, as moving the crop helps avoid the build up of soil pests and diseases

Companion Plants:
Mint: Effective against Cabbage White Butterflies, Aphids / Flea Beetles
Thyme: To ward off that nasty Cabbage Worm!
Also useful: Sage, Oregano, Borage, chamomile and Nasturtium.