White Cabbages

[Barmychick]

Hiya,

I've been told that i need to tie my cabbage leaves to form a shell so that the inner cabbage bit grows properly, is this something i need to do or can they be left just to grow?

Thanks Caz

[DavidT]

No Caz, you don`t do that with cabbages. You do something similar with cauliflowers, however.

[Barmychick]

ahhhh thanks David. Just thought i'd check before i did anything. :-)

[DavidT]

Leave them be, they`ll be fine.

[ginger]

Woooaah, hold on there!!!!!

What was that you do with caulis and their leaves? I've got a few on the go and have just let them get on with it so far...

Thanks!!

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Ginger, the idea is to keep the cauliflower heads covered with the outer leaves which blanches the curds and stops them becoming discoloured from the weather, especially the rain. I don't tie the leaves but I make sure that I bend a large outer leaf or two over the cauliflower head which keeps it nice and clean and stops the rain spoiling the curds. Also always water from the base of the plants to keep the curds dry.

[ginger]

Hi Lesley,

Right - got it. My caulis are in a fleece tunnel, and (if the packets are to be believed) will have different colour heads - does this still apply do you think?

I'll have a peak at the plants under the fleece when the rain stops...

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Ginger, I have never tied the leaves and I really don't think you need to worry about doing that. Rain though is a nuisance - you can have beautiful cauliflowers growing but a down pour of rain can make the curds split and go 'bitty' and discolour them. Coloured cauliflowers are still cauli's so I would cover the heads with the outer leaves to protect them once you remove the fleece.

[DavidT]

I don`t tie the leaves either, I always fold a couple of leaves over the head.

[Barmychick]

just thought i'd post a pic of my white cabbages. one or two have leaves that appear to have been munched on a bit and have a couple of holes.

Can i leave the slighly munched leaves on or do I need to remove them? They still appear green and healthy??