tall growth for purple cabbage

Roseinarosecity 1/26/2012, 11:34 am

I found a forgotten store bought purple cabbage in my fridge growing a new sprout, so I planted it. I was expecting a new cabbage to form but this purple cabbage has grown to a thin tall stalk like a broccoli! It's a dark green stalk which is about 18 inches and is now flowering small little yellow flowers. Why wouldn't it grow to another purple cabbage?

Lavender Debs 1/26/2012, 11:47 am

Roseinarosecity wrote:...snip....Why wouldn't it grow to another purple cabbage?

It is growing LOTS of purple cabbages. You have a flower stalk. The cabbage if fulfilling the command to "be fruitful and multiply".

Roseinarosecity 1/26/2012, 11:56 am

So, if left alone, it is going to seed itself into my beds? I don't think I want that. It was a store bought purple cabbage and we don't eat that much red cabbage!

Roseinarosecity 1/26/2012, 1:20 pm

Correction: I did further research when Lavender posted a reply that what I was growing was a flower stalk.

"One cabbage will give you plenty of seed. Everything in this family needs cross pollination by insects, however, so you'll need at least two to get a crop and you must separate each cabbage variety from all other cabbages as well as any other brassicas."...David Cavagnaro from Seed Savers Exchange.

Being a city girl, I didn't realize what is the life of a cabbage. But I get it now. It is a ball of leaves until it opens up to put out a stalk of flowers to reproduce. I just have the one stalk, so I may not get any viable seeds at all. Thanks for your help.

JK 1/26/2012, 1:55 pm

Not to hijack the post but speaking of purple cabbage, I just got one in a co-op basket yesterday. I have never done anything with one before in any way shape or form. Any tips or suggestions for use/preparation?

littlesapphire 1/26/2012, 2:51 pm

I love mine fried with butter, salt and garlic! Simple but yummy. Here's another one I love:

1/2 cup shredded carrot
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup milk
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 tsp seasoned salt
1 tbsp Parmesan cheese
2 eggs
3 cups thinly sliced cabbage
1 tbsp fresh parsley or 1 tsp dried

Using nonstick cooking spray, saute' the cabbage, carrot and onions until crisp-tender. Transfer to a greased 8x8 baking dish. In a bowl, combine the eggs, milk, cheese and seasoned salt. Pour over the vegetables. Sprinkle with the parsley and Parmesan cheese. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. This makes 2 servings. If you'd like to make a larger batch, double the ingredients and bake it in a 9x13 dish.

tomperrin 1/26/2012, 6:22 pm

Makes great cole slaw.

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tall growth for purple cabbage

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