Growing Pointed cabbage

Pointed cabbage is a type of white cabbage but with some special qualities. It's much easier to digest and has more tender leaves. It contains the most vitamin C and leads in minerals compared to all other headed cabbages. But it does have one downside – it doesn't keep for very long.

Spring: you can start early varieties indoors from the beginning of February and plant them out from mid-March. That way you can harvest the first heads by late June or early July.

Autumn: late varieties go in later. You can direct sow them in early April or start them indoors from then to plant out in May.

Sow the seeds about 2 cm deep in small module trays or little pots filled with seed compost. Once the seedlings have their first true pair of leaves after the seed leaves, it's time to prick them out. When pricking out, plant the little seedlings up to their seed leaves in larger pots with potting soil, where they can grow until it's time to plant them outside.

As a heavy feeder, it prefers a deep, humus-rich loamy soil, ideally in full sun. Partial shade works too, but the heads will stay smaller. Enrich the soil with compost and a bit of organic fertiliser when planting.

Cover your cabbage plants with a fine mesh netting to protect them from pests. Unfortunately, quite a few creatures love to munch on them – cabbage white butterflies, cabbage root flies and whiteflies, to name just a few.

Water regularly during dry spells and keep on top of weeds. Earthing up gives the plants better stability and encourages more side roots, which can take up more nutrients. Feed once or twice with an organic fertiliser during the growing season. A good drench with a plant brew or fermented plant feed always does wonders for plant health too.