Cabbage Taler F1 - Brassica oleracea

The Taler F1 Milan Cabbage is a summer and autumn variety, very hardy, that produces dense and heavy heads, composed of curled leaves. This cabbage can withstand the first frosts and keeps very well, making it ideal for freezing. Sowing from March to June for a harvest from August to December.

Also known as Savoy Cabbage, Curly Cabbage, Frilly Cabbage or Curly Head Cabbage, the Milan Cabbage bears the Latin name Brassica oleracea sabauda (in Latin, sabauda refers to Savoy). 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 Green Cabbage, but differs in the curled or frilled 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 withstands cold weather well. 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 leafy vegetable is remarkable: it is low in calories and very rich in vitamins C and B6, it 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 organic fertilization and regular moisture.

Harvest: it is harvested when its head is well formed by simply cutting it at ground level.

Storage: cabbages keep quite well on the plant and can be stored for several days in the refrigerator. 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 emerges from April-May to wreak havoc all summer by devouring its leaves. Don't be caught off guard and opt for prevention by installing an insect-proof net tightly over hoop supports. These nets are easy to install and reusable to protect, for example, your carrot and leek crops.