BBC Gardeners' World

Plant details

• Common Name: Summer cabbage
• Genus: Brassica
• Species: oleracea capitata group
• Cultivar: 'Winnigstadt'
• Skill Level: experienced
• Exposure: full sun
• Hardiness: hardy
• Soil type: chalky/alkaline, clay/heavy, dry, well-drained/light
• Height: 0.4m
• Spread: 0.2m
• Time to plant seeds: March to May

This is an older variety of cabbage but still very popular because of it's tighly wrapped leaves and hard, pointed hearts. Sow seeds from March to April in prepared seedbeds and plant out from June to July in rows 45cm (18in) apart. If your cabbages are attacked by Cabbage whitefly use companion plants to attract parasitic wasps whose developing larvae will then control the whitefly population. Example plants include fennel, cow parsley and lovage.