Cabbage Advantage F1

The 'Advantage F1' Cabbage is a new, high-performing, and versatile variety that can be harvested from spring for its tender young leaves until autumn. This dark green cabbage also performs very well under cover. It can be sown from March to October for a harvest from spring to autumn.

The Savoy Cabbage or Drumhead Cabbage is a very popular leafy vegetable, and it is loved as much for its flavour as for the generous size of its heads.

Commonly known as Drumhead Cabbage or Savoy Cabbage (in Latin Brassica oleracea capitata, capitata meaning "head"), this beautiful vegetable belongs to the large family of Brassicaceae (formerly Cruciferae). Native to Europe, it is a biennial plant cultivated annually that produces a more or less compact head, which can be round, slightly flattened, or sharply conical in pointed varieties. The leaves of the Savoy Cabbage are smooth, and their colour varies depending on the variety: from very light green, almost white, to dark green, sometimes slightly bluish, to shades of red with a violet tinge, almost black.

Cabbage, although emblematic of winter, can be sown and harvested almost year-round. Varieties are generally grouped into three main categories: spring cabbages, which are harvested from late April to June; summer and autumn cabbages for the period from July; and winter cabbages, which, along with leeks and parsnips, allow you to wait until the first spring harvests.

Savoy Cabbage can be consumed raw or cooked. It can be shredded in salads, braised to accompany meat and fish dishes, stuffed, or used in soups and sauerkraut. There are plenty of recipes, both in traditional and modern cuisine.

From a dietary point of view, it is remarkable: it has low energy value but is very rich in vitamins C, B6, and B9. It also contains a lot of fibre and minerals like calcium.

In the vegetable garden, it is easy to grow as long as you meet its requirements: deep soil, excellent fertilisation, and regular moisture. It thrives in sunny locations and generally does well in cool and rainy climates.

Note: This variety is labelled F1 for "F1 hybrid" because it results from the cross-breeding of carefully selected parents to combine their qualities. This results in a variety that can be exceptionally flavorful and early while resistant to certain diseases. Sometimes criticised or mistakenly associated with GMOs, F1 hybrid seeds are attractive for their uniformity and resistance. Still, unfortunately, their qualities do not pass on to subsequent generations; therefore, it will not be possible to save the seeds for later sowing.

Harvest: It should be done when the cabbage forms a nice head before the leaves turn yellow. It is harvested by cutting just below the head with a knife.

Storage: Savoy Cabbage can be kept in the refrigerator for several days. It can also be frozen after being blanched in salted boiling water. Winter varieties can also be left in the ground. Finally, the preparation of sauerkraut (lacto-fermentation) allows for the flavorful preservation of white-headed autumn varieties.

Gardener's tip: Don't forget the flowers! Even though the vegetable garden is primarily intended for producing quality vegetables, it is always interesting to plant flowers. Firstly, for the aesthetic pleasure they provide, even though the beauty of certain vegetables like cabbage is enough on its own. Secondly, flowers can repel pests and attract valuable pollinators. So, don't hesitate to plant Blanket Flowers, Marigolds, Zinnias, Cosmos, Nasturtiums, or even beautiful herbs like Dill in the middle of the rows or at the edge of the bed. However, be careful with certain plants, such as Borage, which self-seeds abundantly in dedicated cultivation spaces.