November in Southern California is temperamental.
Last week we experienced a few days in the sweltering 90’s and then this week it cooled down to 60-70 degrees!
I was waiting patiently for the cool season so that I could plant cabbage at the Home & Family show vegetable garden.
Sweater weather, Thanksgiving, and a giant cabbage growing outside, is what an ideal November is all about!
My latest Foodie Gardener segment on the Home & Family show is on growing 35 to 50 pound cabbages.
Below is a transcript from the segment with extended information and photos!
WHAT CABBAGE VARIETIES DID YOU PLANT IN THE HOME & FAMILY GARDEN?
“I planted 4 varieties of cabbage including a special giant cabbage variety called, Bonnie’s Mega Cabbage which is grown by competing 3rd grade students all over the country!
*BONNIE HYBRID CABBAGE- Green cabbage grows in 75 days to 5 to 7 pounds.
Eat green cabbage fresh or cooked
*RED CABBAGE- Also grows in 75 days but is smaller at around 3 pounds.
Best eaten raw.
TIP: Red cabbage turns blue when cooked. Add 1 tsp of lemon or vinegar to water to revert to red again
*NAPA CABBAGE- “CHINESE”- Grows in 45-60 days, 18″-inches tall.
Napa cabbage is crunchy and more mild tasting than green or red cabbage.
Tastes great in a stir fry.
*BONNIE MEGA-CABBAGE– Grows in 85 days with a giant head size 30- pounds, depending on growing conditions and plant care.
2013 Alabama Winner
2014 Florida Winner
2014 Georgia Winner
WHAT ARE THESE KIDS DOING WITH GIANT PUMPKINS?
Bonnie Plants sponsors an annual, nationwide, “3rd Grade Cabbage Program.” which challenges kids to grow a giant cabbage.
Bonnie provides a free “Mega-Cabbage” variety plant to every third grade student across the country, whose teacher or home school educator has signed up for the program.
At end of growing period, student sends in photo with weight and size information to state agriculture director.
State Agriculture Director draws winning name from entries for each state and the student wins $1000 prize
WHEN CAN YOU GROW CABBAGE?
Cabbage grows 2x per year.
Plant fall cabbage 6 weeks before first frost or wait till late winter early spring- temps average 40 degrees and up.
Mild climates- grow cabbage anytime, Fall and Spring.
HOW DO YOU GROW A GIANT CABBAGE?
Plant your cabbage plant in a full sun area that receives at least 6 hours of sun.
Prepare your soil by adding compost and a fertilizer with lots of Nitrogen such as organic Blood Meal.
Set plants so that 1-2? of the main stem is buried.
Space giant cabbage varieties approximately 36″-inches apart for room to grow.
You can also plant in large 18″-inch to 24″-inch containers.
We used the Gardner & Bloome Organic Harvest Supreme soil because it supplies compost and nutrients to the native soil.
HOW OFTEN DO YOU WATER AND FERTILIZE GIANT CABBAGE?
Giant cabbage needs lots of water to gain weight and a large size.
Apply 1 to 2 inches of water per week if it doesn’t rain.
Fertilize cabbage at planting time and again when head starts to form, a few weeks later.
Use liquid fish emulsion or balanced fertilizer (20-20-20) when heads form.
HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN CABBAGE IS READY TO HARVEST?
Cabbage head will be very large with tight leaves around the head.
Squeeze head.
Leaves should not be loose.
Cut away from stem and if you leave stem and roots in place, smaller cabbage heads will re-grow in a few weeks.
“Thank you to Bonnie Plants for all of our cold season vegetable plants”
BonniePlants.com
“Thank you to Kellogg for our organic, ‘Harvest Supreme’ soil”
KelloggGarden.com
