Cabbage Gros des Vertus - Brassica oleracea sabauda

The Giant of Virtues Milan Cabbage is a late variety, very hardy, that produces large, slightly flattened heads composed of blistered leaves. This cabbage can withstand early frost and stores very well, making it ideal for autumn harvests. Sow from March to June for a harvest from August to December.

Also known as Savoy Cabbage, Blistered Cabbage, Curly Cabbage, or Curly-headed Cabbage, the Milan Cabbage has the Latin name Brassica oleracea sabauda (sabauda referring to Savoy in Latin). It belongs to the large family of Brassicaceae (formerly Cruciferae).

Originating, unsurprisingly, from Italy and more specifically from Milan, this cabbage is quite similar to the Cabbage but differs in the blistered or curly appearance of its leaves. There are many varieties, with production ranging from spring to winter. By carefully selecting your seeds and spreading out the sowings over time, you can have this vegetable for a very long period.

An autumn and winter vegetable par excellence, Milan Cabbage is resistant to cold. It is delicious raw in salads but can also be cooked, braised with sausages or even with fish. From a nutritional point of view, this leaf vegetable is remarkable: it is low in calories and very rich in vitamins C and B6, and also contains a lot of fiber and minerals like calcium.

In the garden, like almost all cabbages (Brussels Sprouts being the exception), Milan Cabbage is a demanding vegetable, requiring excellent base fertilization and regular moisture.

Harvest: It is harvested when the head is full by simply cutting it at ground level.

Storage: Pommel Cabbages can be stored for quite a long time in the field and can be kept in the refrigerator for several days. They also freeze very well after being blanched for 3 to 5 minutes in salted boiling water.

Gardener's tip: The main enemy of cabbage is the Cabbage White Butterfly (Pieris brassicae), a pretty creamy-white butterfly with small black spots that awakens from April-May to wreak havoc all summer by devouring its leaves. Don't let yourself be caught off guard and opt for prevention by installing an insect-proof netting tightly on market garden hoops. These nets are easy to set up and reusable to protect, for example, your carrot and leek crops.