CABBAGE ‘Ethiopian’ Vegetable Seeds
Botanical name: Brassica carinata syn. Melanosinapis abyssinica
Synonyms: Abyssinian mustard, Ethiopian kale
An indigenous African vegetable variety rich in glucosinolates. The young leaves are used as a salad green; mature leaves as cooked greens; immature flower shoots as broccoli or pickled; seeds as mustard substitute. Ethiopian Cabbage is an annual or biennial cool season crop that grows 60 – 100 cm high. It is hardy and cold tolerant and holds well in the garden. Flowers are very attractive to bees and beneficial insects. Suitable for temperate, subtropical and tropical areas.
Plant Type:
- Annual or biennial cool season crop
Plant height:
- 60 – 100 cm height
Sow When:
- Germinates best at 15-20 degrees Celsius
- Sown When:
- Temperate: Spring – Autumn
- Subtropical: Late Autumn – early Winter
- Tropical: April – August
Germination:
- 5 – 6 days
Depth:
- 10 mm deep
Position:
- Full sun; sow into seed tray or seedbed
Soil Type:
- Fertile, well drained, pH 6 – 6.5
Spacing:
- 50 x 50 cm apart
Details:
- Transplant seedlings by first removing the seed leaves and planting deeper, up to the 1st set of true leaves; keep soil moist; add organic fertiliser when plants are half grown
Harvest:
- 60- 90 days: young leaves use as a salad green; mature leaves as cooked greens; immature flower shoots as broccoli or pickled; seeds as mustard substitute
