Cabbage Savoy King F1 - Brassica oleracea sabauda

The 'Savoy King F1' Cabbage, also known as the King of Milan, is an early, highly productive, and hardy variety that produces large heads of dark green, crinkled, and particularly tender leaves. It is a versatile cabbage as it withstands heat well. Sow from March to June for a harvest from August to November.

Also known as Savoy Cabbage, Crinkle Cabbage, Frilly Cabbage or Curly-leaf Cabbage, the Milan Cabbage has the Latin name Brassica oleracea sabauda (with sabauda referring 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 White Cabbage but distinguishes itself by the crinkled or curly appearance of its leaves. There are many varieties of Milan Cabbage, with production spanning from spring to winter. By carefully selecting your seeds and spreading the sowings over time, you can enjoy 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 such as calcium.

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

NB: 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 flavourful and early while also resistant to certain diseases. Sometimes criticised or wrongly associated with GMOs, F1 hybrid seeds are attractive for their uniformity and resistance. Still, unfortunately, their qualities do not pass on to the next generations: it will, therefore, not be possible to collect the seeds for later sowing.

Harvest is harvested when the head is fully formed by simply cutting it at ground level.

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

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 to May to devour its leaves throughout the summer. Don't be caught off guard and opt for prevention by installing an insect-proof netting tightly on hoop supports. These nets are easy to put in place and reusable to protect, for example, your carrot and leek crops.