Cabbage

Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) is a true garden staple — from early salad cabbage to late varieties for shredding and sauerkraut. Start early varieties indoors from February; late ones are planted out by the end of May. It is hungry and thirsty: it wants limed, humus-rich soil and regular watering, otherwise the heads split. Its biggest enemy is the cabbage white caterpillar — insect netting helps. It makes an excellent neighbour for tomatoes, celery and aromatic herbs; never plant it after other brassicas and keep a four-year rotation.