• DELIVERY INFO: Seed potatoes & onion/shallot sets are now being shipped. Plug plants will be shipped from late April onwards. See FAQs for further info.

Savoy Cabbage – Vertus

£5.99

Easy to grow, hardy and delicious
This variety of savoy cabbage has rounded heads of dark green ruffled leaves that have a more subtle flavour compared to other savoy cabbages, slightly less bitter. It’s a very hardy variety and stands well without splitting. Best grown in beds, but it can be grown in large pots too. Growing from our organic plug plants is easy – follow the advice in the comprehensive growing guide that you will receive with the plants.

Number of plants: 10 plug plants

Variety: Vertus (organic*)

In the kitchen: Shred or cut savoy cabbage into wedges with the hard core discarded. Steam, boil, braise or stir-fry. It especially delicious braised with pancetta and garlic.

THESE PLANTS WILL BE SHIPPED IN SPRING 2024

Delivery Info: Please see FAQs for up-to-date delivery info.

Planting advice: Plant plugs 40cm apart in fertile soil. Firm in well and protect from slugs, butterflies and pigeons! Harvesting: Harvest once heads are firm, from autumn through to winter

*Transplants suitable for organic growing.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.


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.

Do I need to sign for them?
All our plug 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 plug 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 plug plants are packed and leave us so you know to expect and prepare for their arrival.