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Chinese Cabbage – Wong Bok (Autumn)

£4.79

Out of stock

Cabbage Greens to enjoy in early spring

Grow these crisp cabbages through autumn and winter to harvest in spring. Keep them protected from frost. You will receive a growing guide with the plants.

Variety: Wong Bok

Number of plants: 10 plug plants (organic*)

In the kitchen: Enjoy Chinese cabbage in stir-fries, steam it, boil it or use raw in salads.

Delivery Info: Available to order now for delivery between September and mid/late October. Please see FAQs for up-to-date delivery info.

Planting/Growing Advice: Plant in autumn approx 30cm apart in raised beds, traditional veg patches or in large pots and planters. They will grow quite quickly while the weather is relatively warm in autumn, and then will slow down in the colder months. They are frost/snow hardy and can be grown outside quite happily. Protect from pigeons and slugs.

When to harvest: Wait until the plant reaches maturity in late winter/early spring and harvest the entire plant as you wish to use it in the kitchen.

*Transplants suitable for organic growing.

cabbage

A sunny site with fertile soil.

Cabbages need a sunny site with deep, firm, moisture retentive soil. Add plenty of compost or organic matter before planting.

Cabbage

Plant in raised beds & traditional plots

Cabbage is better grown in raised beds or a well dug traditional veg patch. You could grow them in a grow bag too, 3 to a bag.

Cabbage

How far apart?

30-40cm apart

Firm in well

When you plant your cabbages, be sure to firm them in well by pressing the soil down around the base of the plants.

Cabbage

Protect with a brassica collar

You can make these easily out of cardboard. Cut a 10cm diameter disc, cut into the centre and make a slit so that you can pop it around the base of the plant. This is to prevent cabbage root fly larvae from hatching by the base of the plant and burying under the soil to eat the roots.

Cabbage

Net against pigeons & butterflies

Pigeons love brassica plants and will easily destroy a crop of young plants in a morning. Meanwhile, cabbage white butterflies are attracted to brassicas and lay eggs on the leaves. When the eggs hatch, the caterpillars are quick to nibble away the leaves and strip the plant bare. To protect against both these pests, cover plants with fine mesh netting or horticultural fleece.

Cabbage

Keep soil moist

As weather warms up it is important to keep cabbages cool and to give them enough water. Try to keep the soil consistently moist rather than allowing it to dry out. During dry spells, water well, once or twice a week.

Cabbage

When to harvest

Harvest as required once the cabbage is fully mature. In cold weather you can leave them in the ground until you want them.

Pigeons

Pigeons will eat the foliage right down to the ribs/veins. Keep plants netted if you have a lot of pigeons around.

Caterpillars

Lots of holes appearing in leaves is a sure sign of caterpillars. They soon grow, and the holes grow too. Check the underside of leaves and you may see tiny eggs – wipe them off with kitchen paper – or caterpillars themselves. Keep plants netted against butterflies.

Slugs & Snails

Protect plants well from slugs, especially when they are young and vulnerable. Beer traps work well and you may need to to do a dusk patrol with a head torch and bucket to remove slugs if they get really bad!

Cabbage Root Fly

Cabbage flies lay eggs at the base of brassica plants. When the eggs hatch, the larvae bury into the ground and feed on the roots. The plants eventually wilt and die. Prevention is key – use brassica collars (see growing advice section)

Club Root

This is a fungal disease that leads to the swelling and distortion of roots, and plants will be stunted. Avoid growing brassicas in the same bed for two years consecutively if this happens. Add plenty of organic matter to the soil.

Heart not forming/Split heads

If your cabbage fails to form a heart, and instead produces lots of loose leaves, it is most likely due to irregular watering in the soil. Try not to let soil dry out completely, and be careful during hot, dry spells.

Symptom Checker

Leaves eaten entirely apart from veins = Pigeons (or a lot of caterpillars)

Holes eaten in leaves – no slime trail = Caterpillars

Holes eaten in leaves with slime trails = Slugs/Snails

Stunted growth/wilting = Cabbage root fly or Club Root

Heart not forming = Too hot/dry & irregular watering

Storage Tips

Harvest them as you want to eat them – they will store in the fridge for a few days, but are much better cooked fresh.

Ways to cook

Bubble and squeak is a fabulous cabbage dish, or you can simply stir fry with a little vegetable oil.

Braised red cabbage is delicious, cooked with apple juice, cinnamon and cloves.

Spring Greens and Winter Greens are excellent to finely chop and add to a stir fry.

Shredded Cabbage and Carrots

This is a quick and easy side dish…

  • Finely slice half a cabbage (savoy is best)
  • Grate 2 good sized carrots
  • Heat a little olive oil in a wok
  • Add the carrots and cabbage and stir fry them
  • Add a squeeze of lemon and a teaspoon of mustard
  • Season with sea salt and black pepper

When we deliver
We deliver these plug plants between September and mid/late October, although it’s a little dependent on the weather.

You can order from…
These plug plants are available to be ordered now and we’ll despatch them as soon as they are big enough to both handle the journey to your garden and handle life outside the poly tunnel.

Do I need to sign for them?
All our plant orders are dispatched with an overnight courier* to mainland UK and do not need to be signed for when they are delivered, but will be left somewhere safe. When placing your order, please let us know where you would like the plants left if you are not in when the courier delivers.

We will keep you posted
You will receive an email approximately a week before your order is dispatched and another on the day your plants are packed and leave us so you know to expect and prepare for their arrival.