Cabbage
This vegetable is usable in a variety of family meals, and it is easy to
get a good crop no matter what type of soil you have.
-Planting: To get an evenly spaced crop, some seeds should be sown in
early Spring as soon as the soil is workable. Some seedlings should also
be planted at the same time. Plants should be 18 inches apart in rows
25-30 inches apart, and a collar should be placed around the stem of each
plant to stop cutworms.
-Growing: A side dressing of high-nitrogen fertilizer at planting time and
every four weeks thereafter will ensure good growth. Cabbage needs a
steady supply of moisture, and a 2-4 inch mulch will help with this. If
the plants are not getting enough moisture, cracking of the heads will
occur. Some gardeners reduce the cracking by severing the roots on one
side of the plant with a sharp spade. Hoeing is not advised due to the
shallow nature of the plants' root system. Cabbageworm damage can be
prevented by spraying weekly with Bacillus thuringiensis.
-Harvesting: When the heads are still compact, use a sharp knife to cut
near the base of the plant. The old stem will produce several smaller but
still usable heads if left alone.
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