I put 180 Cabbage plants out Sat. evening. Would have been 192 if they would have all germinated. Had to go to plan B setting them out. Too damp to disk, and use my homemade transplanter, so used a 2" bulb auger to make holes. Used my David Bradley 2-wheeler to mark out rows, then added fertilizer then ran back through the rows to mix it in. Drilled the holes, dropped plants in then carefully pulled dirt in around them. Didn't bother watering them in, as I'd watered them good a couple hours before setting out and weather service were calling for rain by the early morning hours. They did say there would be some heavy T-storms possible, just hoping they would miss us, and not beat the plants in the ground. Luckily the heavy rain stayed South and all of the plants were standing up nice & pretty by 10:00am with what little sun was shining in between showers.
There are 4 different varieties, 1 red cabbage, 3 green. A supposed smaller green for a more personal size for slaw or frying, another large for making 'Kraut. We'll see how it compares to the "Greenboy" from Holmes Seed. It made some dandy8.5 - 10.5 lb. heads last year. Rows are 5' apart, I sowed Daikon Radishes in between to attract the white butterflies that lay Cabbage Worm eggs, when the radishes bolt. Here's a short video of how well they attract the butterflies I took a couple years ago.
That and BT sprayed per directions I had totally clean worm free cabbage.
I plan to make a lot more 'Kraut now that I know I can water bath can it, and make it shelf stable. Freezer Cabbage rolls will be on the list to make too. Some I will give to friends who also make sauerkraut, donate some to a local food kitchen, and may try some bulk cabbage sales for other who want to make whatever. I'm thinking if I beat grocery store prices a bit, it may fly. It makes me ill the prices they get a local Farmer's Markets, getting $3 - $4 a lb., and no breaks for bulk buyer's. I won't cut until buyer's are here to pick up. Don't want no-shows wanting 6-8 heads, then not show up. BTDT... Hoping it will offset some of the cost or even cover the cost of what I put out. I figure just breaking even after getting what I put up and selling surplus would be
great. We shall see.
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