6 Milan cabbages to discover

The Gros des Vertus with large apples

The Milan Cabbage Gros des Vertus is a variety that possesses all the qualities to earn its place in any garden. This late variety of Milan cabbage produces a large, heavy, and firm head. Slightly flat, this head consists of green leaves delicately tinged with bluish hues. Crinkled at the top, these leaves tightly form a beautiful and appetising cabbage head. But do you know why this Milan cabbage has such a name? Simply because it originates from the plain of Vertus, which stretched from Aubervilliers to La Courneuve in Seine-Saint-Denis. Until the end of the 19th century, this plain of Vertus was the largest market gardening centre in France, supplying the stalls of the Parisian Halles with vegetables. The Milan Cabbage Gros des Vertus belonged to the category of vegetables that were hearty and featured in robust soups.

The Milan Cabbage Gros des Vertus stands tall and produces a wide head measuring 25 cm. It is sown from March to early May and harvested from mid-September until early winter. This cabbage is notably hardy and very productive.

The Pontoise Milan cabbage with its unmatched flavour

Another Milan cabbage named after a town in the Paris region. The Pontoise Milan Cabbage originates from the Cergy-Pontoise plain, from where carts overflowing with freshly picked vegetables departed for the markets of Paris until the end of the 19th century. Today, this ancient variety of Milan cabbage is making a comeback on plates, including those of top chefs. This Milan cabbage is known for its sweet, almost sugary flavour and crunchy texture. As for its colour, it also garners much praise: starting as a blue-green, the leaves take on pinkish-purple hues in the cold. It is indeed very hardy and withstands winter temperatures well.

The Pontoise Milan Cabbage

Rather tall, the Pontoise Milan cabbage produces round heads, about fifteen centimetres wide, weighing up to 2 kg. Firm and well-formed, the head is surrounded by its coarsely frilled outer leaves. The heads develop later than those of other Milan cabbages.

This variety is sown from May to June, with transplanting around 14 July. It is harvested in winter, after Saint Martin’s Day (11 November) and until March.

Milan cabbage of Saint John, a very early variety

This Milan cabbage stands out from the crowd. Unlike its counterparts, The Saint-Jean Milan cabbage resembles a round cabbage as it produces a compact, obtuse, pointed, and conical head on a short stem. It almost gives the impression of growing on the ground. Only its heavily crinkled leaves remind us of its classification as a Milan cabbage. These leaves display a stunning blond green. The Saint-Jean Milan cabbage is harvested at a medium size to preserve its tenderness.

This variety of Milan cabbage is also distinguished by its earliness. It is a very early cabbage that is harvested in June or July. If sowing has been early, this cabbage is logically enjoyed at Saint-Jean, which is on 23 June.

Also known as Vendôme Milan cabbage or Frisée Beefheart Milan cabbage, this variety is sown in February or March under cover before being transplanted.

Milan Vorbote cabbage for spring

The Milan cabbage Vorbote may not attract attention for the size of its head, which remains small to medium, weighing around 500 g. It is rather its earliness that gardeners appreciate. Indeed, this very early variety of Milan cabbage can be harvested from June to October, approximately 65 days after sowing. An earliness that does not prevent it from withstanding light spring frosts. It is also particularly resistant to running to seed.

The Milan cabbage Vorbote

This Milan cabbage produces heads with dentate foliage, slightly conical, with a very sweet and pleasant flavour. Its blistered leaves display a deep green colour.

For a harvest starting in June, it is advisable to sow in February or March, under cover.

Milan Wirosa F1 cabbage, early maturity combined with the beauty of its foliage

Another well-known and recognised Milan cabbage, the Wirosa F1 Milan cabbage produces a head in about 70 days. Moreover, it weighs between 1.5 to 2 kg, is very firm and compact, and especially well-rounded, surrounded by lovely outer leaves, finely crinkled and highly decorative. The foliage of this F1 hybrid boasts a lovely dark blue-green colour. It also has the unique feature of a small core, which reduces waste to virtually nothing.

The Wirosa Milan cabbage

As for the harvest, it spans a relatively long period, from late summer until the first frosts. Once picked, these Milan cabbages can be stored throughout the winter in a cellar. Sowing takes place from December to March. And rest assured, the Wirosa F1 Milan cabbage is not afraid of either cold or heat.

Milan Cabbage Capriccio F1, the handsome Italian that looks great

The Milan Cabbage Capriccio F1 is a charmer: it indeed offers a beautiful, dense, generous, and homogeneous head, of excellent quality, weighing around 1.5 kg, with finely crinkled leaves of a stunning dark green slightly tinged with blue. Besides its aesthetic appeal, the Milan Cabbage Capriccio F1 is easy to grow and adapts to all situations. A summer and autumn variety, it is semi-early and withstands the first frosts without complaint.

Milan Cabbage Capriccio

It has excellent taste quality and is resistant to splitting. Once harvested, it stores very well in a cellar. It is also the ideal Milan cabbage for freezing.

Sowing takes place from the end of winter, from March to June, for a harvest starting in August and lasting until December.

To find out more

• If you enjoy growing cabbages, I invite you to discover our selection of 6 cauliflowers and 6 Chinese cabbages
• Virginie explains everything you need to know about cabbage: planting, growing, and harvesting
• And to add some variety, discover our collection of cabbages
• Explore our selection of 8 cabbages to grow in the vegetable garden throughout the year.