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Cabbages

August 31st, 2013

Back in Ohio, my soil was much to lean and dry to grow a decent cabbage.  This year, I finally have a few beautiful cabbages in the garden.  I can’t wait to harvest these lovelies to make a BIG batch of sauerkraut.
cabbages 1
cabbages 2
I have 6 of these green cabbages in the garden that could be harvested any day. The red ones still need another month or so. They’re lagging because of the big maple tree that’s planted a little too close to the potager.

Do you struggle to grow any certain vegetable?

9 Comments to “Cabbages”
  1. Lemongrass on August 31, 2013 at 5:23 am

    Lovely looking heads of cabbage. Have not grown cabbage in a long time, but loves cabbage. Green to added to pumpkin/carrot soup and red ones in salads, stews and black bean loafl. Struggles in the veggie beds have not been great–thank goodness.

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  2. Nebraska Dave on August 31, 2013 at 8:34 am

    Susy, this year was a good year for cabbage here as well. I actually grew cabbage from seed started under the grow lights. They will end up being kraut as well. Fermenting vegetables, I’m finding, is a whole new world to explore.

    Have a great day in the garden.

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  3. amy on August 31, 2013 at 10:37 am

    For me it depends on the year…..The last couple of years it has been zucchini…..and yellow squash….which I had never had a problem with before…..This year is like old times and I have more than I can possibly use……I have only had success one time with brussel sprouts which I adore…..so no longer grow them……I guess this year I am struggling with my seeded kale, turnip greens and collards….for some reason…..It could be that the ducks or escapee chickens are eating them….upon further reflection!

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  4. Marby on August 31, 2013 at 3:25 pm

    I struggle to grow cauliflower, they always have the tiniest heads, about the size of a golf ball and stalky.

    Love the first photo, such a perfect looking cabbage.

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  5. Trish on August 31, 2013 at 5:06 pm

    my brussels sprouts and kale are getting hit hard by bugs. I was fighting it, but gave up and am hoping they will come back with rain and cooler temps. I love the idea of seeding crops midsummer for fall harvest, but it is usually so hot and dry here at seeding time. I tried it anyway with chard, beets, spinach and radishes. We shall see. and I started more kale from seed but am waiting for rain and cooler temps before transplanting. I bought some netting to put over the seedlings to keep out the bugs.

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  6. Jennifer Fisk on August 31, 2013 at 8:05 pm

    I have tried Brussels Sprouts many times including this year with no luck.

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  7. Bettina on September 1, 2013 at 4:03 am

    Not just sauerkraut (by the way, you might try a cabbage type called “Filderkraut” for this, in Germany they are considered the best cabbage for sauerkraut.

    Stuffed Cabbage (cabbage leaves filled with a ground beef mix like for a meatloaf, i.e. with onions, spices). If the leaves are not big enough, you can do the same by making it in a casserole, a bit like lasagna.

    You need to cook the cabbage in water before you fill the leaves (otherwise they are too stiff and won’t wrap around the filling). Once they are filled, you braise it in beef stock. As a casserole, you layer the beef mix (please, no breadcrumbs), in between layers of cabbage leaves (also pre-cooked) and then ladle beef stock over it. Bake in the oven at 180 – 200 Celsius!

    Serve new potatoes with it (boiled or mashed) Makes for a lovely meal on a cold autumn evening!

    Also, both freeze well.

    Reply to Bettina's comment

    • amy on September 1, 2013 at 12:37 pm

      Bettina~lovely sounding recipe! Will try Filderkraut.

      Reply to amy's comment

      • Bettina on September 1, 2013 at 1:17 pm

        Just google “Krautrouladen”, that will give you the basic recipe.

        to Bettina's comment

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This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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