It's no coincidence that pointed cabbage ranks at the top of the popularity scale of cabbage species. Crisp, tender leaves invite you to culinary enjoyment. Hobby gardeners plant spring vegetables with enthusiasm because the harvest doesn't take long to arrive.
How can I grow pointed cabbage in the garden?
To grow pointed cabbage successfully, sow it in the house or greenhouse from January/February, plant it in a sunny, warm location with nutrient-rich, permeable and calcareous soil and care for it with sufficient water and fertilizer. Pay attention to appropriate crop rotation and suitable planting partners.
Uncomplicated indoor cultivation ensures growth advantage
Pointed cabbage traditionally rings in the new gardening year. Sowing is possible from January/February on the windowsill or in the greenhouse. At constant temperatures between 16° and 20° Celsius, germination begins within 8 to 10 days. When the first true leaves appear above the cotyledons, the tender plants are pricked out. By April, such a strong root system has already developed that they move outdoors with a high potential for vitality.
Planting and care don't require much from the gardener
The demands of pointed cabbage on its cultivation in the vegetable patch are within manageable limits:
- A sunny, warm location, preferably surrounded by air.
- Nutritious soil, humus, permeable and calcareous.
- Plant at a distance of 40×50 cm and cover with crop protection nets.
- A loose, permanently moist soil is good for pointed cabbage.
The medium to high nutrient requirements are covered by well-rotted compost, plant manure or a commercially available fertilizer preparation (€11.00 on Amazon), combined with a well-measured dose of lime.
Planting pointed cabbage early protects the vegetable from a variety of pests. Experience has shown that before they prepare to wreak havoc in the garden, the harvest has already been harvested. Only voracious snails are considered a serious threat, as tender pointed cabbage is one of their favorite foods.
Crop rotation as a supporting pillar in plant protection
The pointed cabbage's worst enemy appears as club root to cause a lot of headaches for the troubled hobby gardener. Since control is difficult, prevention is of great importance. A crop rotation of 3 to 5 years is essential in order not to open the door to fungal spores. Targeted calcium cyanamide fertilization has also proven to be an effective prophylactic. In addition, experienced hobby gardeners avoid mixed cultivation with strawberries because they have been exposed as carriers of dangerous fungal spores.
Suitable planting partners are peas, beans, lettuce, celery, carrots and spinach. Fragrant herbs such as dill, thyme or lemon balm drive away annoying insect pests.
Tips & Tricks
In mild wine-growing regions there is nothing wrong with sowing the cold-tolerant pointed cabbage in mid-August. Planting at the final location takes place by the end of September. Direct sowing in the bed has equally good chances of success with the help of suitable protective measures against frost and snow. Repeated watering should not be missed throughout the winter. If the mercury column rises in spring, the winter protection is removed during the day to prevent mold from forming. The pointed cabbage is ready to harvest from mid-May.
