cabbage plant question

[agnes_day]

ok..my cabbages are getting huge..but when do they start looking like cabbages? they look like huge leafy things right now but without the ball shaped part..so new to this, if you cant tell

 

[Imp]

First off, are your cabbages the kind that make heads? Some are leafy.

If so, I believe that the ball should form in the center of the big leaves, down by the ground. When the head forms depends on the variety of cabbage, usually before the heat of summer. You still have time to go depending on your weather. Although with so many varieties almost anything is possible.

If it looks like a tall plant with a stem, it might mean that the weather got too warm too fast and it bolted.


http://urbanext.illinois.edu/veggies/images/template_01.jpg

Good luck
Imp

 

[BarkerChickens]

If they are huge and don't have formed heads yet, then they are likely a loose leaf cabbage variety (still very tasty!).

 

[agnes_day]

the tag said 45 day cabbage? i think thats what it said and i coulda swore that it had a picture of a normal looking cabbage..they look pretty nice though already. my brussels sprouts plants look good too but they arent looking much different than the cabbages right now.

 

[Imp]

Quote:
I'm guessing it is close to 45 days? Even if it bolted you can still eat the leaves, they may be tougher and need longer cooking. I never had any luck with broccoli. Got covered with bugs. Too gross for me.

Imp

 

[agnes_day]

will the leaves taste good, do you think? they look really nice out there, just huge!
stupid cabbages. i read about "bolting" and i bet that is what happened, although i dont think we have had any real major temperature extremes lately.

 

[Imp]

Quote:
If you cook it like corned beef & cabbage it will taste fine. Cole slaw I think not. You can always give it a try. If you don't like it the chickens will thank you. I never had great luck with veggies, but I have a shady yard in Seattle. Very very different from OK.

Imp-stupid cabbages had me laughing.

 

[agnes_day]

i wonder if it could be fried? that would be good, i bet.
thanks for the advice though, i was wondering what was up.

 

[agnes_day]

ignoring the small infant under one of the plants, are they growing correctly? they seem to be balling up in the center.

 

[agnes_day]

just to show that i dont randomly toss my kids under cabbages, here is the actual picture i was trying to get