Cabbage, Early Jersey Wakefield
74 in stock
Quick Overview
CABBAGE, Early Jersey Wakefield –
Brassica oleracea var. capitata
FULL SUN Native to the Middle East, Europe and parts of Asia, cabbage has been cultivated for thousands of years and prized by civilizations because of its long winter keeping qualities. Cabbages were brought to America with the earliest pilgrims. Early Jersey Wakefield, introduced in the 1840s, is an outstanding early cabbage producing small, pointed heads. Heads weigh 2-4 lb. Excellent short-season cabbage.
Early Jersey Wakefield can be sown in the early spring for a summer crop and in early summer for a fall crop. In the spring, plant as soon as the ground can be worked. Soil should be deeply spaded before planting. Rows should be 18 in. apart. Plants can also be started indoors 3-4 weeks before the last frost date.
When seedlings are 5 in. high, thin, leaving 12 in. between plants. This variety can be planted more densly than other cabbages.
| Type | Spacing | Planting Depth | Days to Germination | Maturity |
| Cabbage | 12 in. | 1 in. | 10-14 | 75 |
Cabbage, Early Jersey Wakefield
The Cabbage family from which developed broccoli, cauliflowers, Brussels sprouts, collards, kale, kohlrabi, turnips and rutabaga is one of the most ancient vegetable families known to man. The ability of brassica to mutate into so many interesting, if not bizarre, forms may be unique in the plant or animal kingdom. Modern day head-forming cabbages developed from a wild, loose-headed cabbage believed to be similar to our savoy cabbages. Cultivation of the wild cabbage began many thousands of years ago in the Middle East and spread east into Asia and west into Europe at about the same time. The smooth, tight-headed cabbages that are popular today are a relatively recent development. The Romans, for example, probably did not grow the smooth varieties, but instead were familiar with a loose-headed, savoy-leaved type of cabbage. The red and purple varieties were developed and popularized in Europe around the 16th century. Cabbages are usually classified by the shape of their heads: round – Danish Ballhead, oval – Mammoth Red Rock, flat – Late Flat Dutch, pointed – Early Jersey Wakefield. Specific subvarieties are differentiated by color, keeping qualities and length of growing season.
