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Cabbage (Brassica Oleraceae,
L.)
The Cruciferae family, also known as Brassicaceae, has more
than 300 varieties and 3000 species. Brassica has more or less
40 species.
Brassicae are species rich in minerals. From the nutritive point
of view, it may be detached the epidemical evidence to an
inverse correlation between the incidence of some kinds of
cancer and its consumption. Some glucosinolates, secondary
Cruciferae metabolites involved in a characteristic aroma of
these plants, prevent the beginning of cancer.
Genre
Species
Subspecies
Common Name
Brassica
B. oleraceae
Acephala
Alboglabra
Botrytis
Capitata
Gemmiferae
Rapa
Itálica
Napus
Kale
Chinese cabbage
Cauliflower
Headed Cabbage
Brussels sprouts
Turnip cabbage
Broccoli
Swedish turnip
Brassicae are in the main vegetable crops among world-wide,
considering its area, production volume and consumption.
They constitute an important crop group in different regions
of the globe.
Eastern Europe (Russia, Poland, Rumania, Ukrainia), Eastern
Asia (China, Japan, Southern
Korea) and the USA are
important producers of different cabbages’ varieties.
The production of broccoli has a great expression in the USA
(California) and Italy.
Cauliflower production is lead by China, India and also big
amounts in France, Italy, the UK and the USA.
Broccoli (Brassica oleraceae L. Var. italica
Plenck)
The heads of broccoli are green inflorescences
harvested before flowering. Every cabbage that spike
has edible heads, although these are less dense than
the
broccoli
or
cauliflower.
Seed-plot: growing seedlings or line. Little sowing
density (2-4 cm between seeds). The seeding period
changes
attending
to
the
varieties.
It’s a crop that needs a big amount of composting (
>30kg/100m2).
Broccoli (Brassica oleraceae L. Var. italica
Plenck)
Sowing: 50cm x 60 cm in 2-4 leaves stage, in turf.
Mulch it with a composting, mulch again with grass. In
cultivars of autumn harvesting, transplant it with 5-7
leaves (30-45 days, 10-15 cm) and with 9-12 leaves
(60-70 days, 15-20 cm) in winter cultivars.
Harvesting: between half a month – 2 months and a
half, after sowing, depending on the variety.
Varieties: there are varieties that can be adapted to
several conditions, so it can be selected between the
short life-cycle varieties and summer or autumn
harvesting; long life-cycle with winter and spring
harvesting.
Chinese Cabbage (Brassica pekinensisa L.)
This plant comes from Extreme Orient and is
cultivated in China far from 1500 years ago; nowadays
its cultivation has expanded. It is eaten fresh, but
also in sauces, boiled meals, etc, because it is rich in
vitamins.
Some years ago its cultivation was expanded to
Europe.
It’s a delicate crop that has success in greenhouses,
well adapted to hot climates and fertile soils.
Seed-plot: in the definite place in lines or dims.
Chinese Cabbage (Brassica pekinensisa L.)
Care: trimming is very important because it allows the selection
of plants.
The major problem is precocious spiking. Soil must always be
humid and mulched.
It requires a big amount of composting (> 30 kg/100m2).
It’s important to ensure its protection against slugs and
caterpillars (pulverized them with Bacillus Thurigiensis (BT) to
avoid caterpillars).
Harvesting: Chinese cabbage creates a more or less fat cabbage
that endures small frosts. Pulled with roots and with sand it can
be conserved during several weeks.
Varieties: the cultivated varieties attend to precocity factor.
Early varieties: Tropicana, Spring, Nagaoka; semi latest
cultivars, Sui Ryoku, Kasumi; latest cultivars: Snow Mountain,
etc.
Brussels Sprouts (Brassica oleraceae L. var.
gemmiferae)
It appeared in Belgium in the 18th century. It’s an appreciated cultivar
during winter because of its vitamin and minerals (iron and calcium)
richness, being destined to the market and industry.
Oppositely to the other cabbages, this one prefers a soil moderately
rich in nitrogen (in soils very rich, the buds become small and opened).
The “sprouts” (small heads that resemble miniature cabbages) are
produced in the leaf axils, starting at the base of the stem and working
upward. Sprouts improve in quality and grow best during cool or even
lightly weather.
Seed-plot: growing seedlings, in row. During dry weather, pulverize
them regularly with rotenone or put on it some genista’s branches
(protects them against alticae, which are leaves rodent insects).
It requires small quantities of composting.
Brussels sprouts (Brassica oleraceae L. var.
gemmiferae)
Sowing: eliminate plants without buds or damaged, as well as
weak or weed plants.
Care: mulch it with vegetal detritus. Verify caterpillars (put
some branches of tomatoes over the leaves, because it has a
repulsive effect); to cure them, apply an insecticide based on
BT). Don’t trim them because it increases a higher protection
against cold. Sometimes it’s difficult the application of tutors to
avoid the sprouts inclination.
Harvesting: it begins in the sprouts when they have 2-3 cm
diameter. To wintering varieties, the first water flowing will
bring profits to the crops.
Associated crops: avoid the proximity of frizzy chicories and
black radishes.
Cauliflower
(Brassica oleraceae
botrytis)
L.
var.
It has its origins in Oriental Mediterranean and was
disseminated over Europe during the 16th century. It
has a very characteristic taste because of
glucosinolates. Cauliflower requires fertile soils and
regular humidity.
Seed-plot: growing seedlings with direct seeding or
transplantation. Direct seeding develops precocious
crops (10-20 days).
There is a strong competition among the plants. A
reason for that could be, for instance, the great
density in growing seedlings, it delays harvesting
period.
Cauliflower
(Brassica oleraceae
botrytis)
L.
var.
Transplantation: during the stage of 3-4 leaves. It requires a
big amount of composting (> 30 kg/100m2).
Transplant with 5-7 leaves (30-40 days, 10-15 cm) for autumn
cultivar, and with 9-12 leaves (60-70 days, 15-20 cm) for winter
cultivar.
Sowing: it’s important to transplant only the healthier and
developed plants, those with buds (observe its centre). Cover
the roots with a clayish substance. Irrigate it immediately after
sowing and shade them. Next, spread a good and well
decomposed composting near the plants and mulch it with a thin
layer of straw or grass.
Cauliflower (Brassica oleraceae L. var.
botrytis)
Care: Irrigate it abundantly during summer. To combat lizards,
set tomato branches among the leaves (repulsive effect) and
treat them with Bacillus thurigiensis. When the first
inflorescences appear, they should be covered with its own
leaves, curving them to preserve their inside whiteness.
Harvesting: harvest inflorescences before flowering.
Varieties: there is a great genetic variety in cauliflower. In
function of the time of production, we may classify the existing
varieties in three groups:-Summer, Autumn and Winter.
Ex: Snow ball, Syria, White flora, Xana, White top, Express,
Alpha, Neapolitan Giant, Autumn Giant, Imperial, Everest, etc.
Turnip Cabbage (Brassica napus L.)
It has a very rustic and productive root. For a long
period of time, is was a basic food supply to human
beings, mainly before potato introduction.
Seed-plot: in the definite place, in lines.
It has a high-quality development in fresh and humid
climates.
Trim it, using 20 cm intervals between each plant.
It requires a big amount of composting (30
kg/100m2).