Dottenfelder Organic Cabbage

Nature & Nurture Seeds

Brassica oleracea

$4.99

Pkt(≈50 seeds)
VALUE SIZE: 1/20 oz (≈ 350 seeds)
Certified Organic

90 days. Green, storage cabbage with nice and sweet flavor. We are so excited to offer this great, open-pollinated storage/kraut cabbage especially in light of the domination of hybrid cabbage in the seed industry! Dottenfelder was bred by German Biodynamic Seed breeder Dieter Bauer and was made possible through the work of the Meadowlark Hearth Biodynamic Seed Initiative. Clint Freund, of Jefferson, Wisconsin, grew these seeds in collaboration with Meadowlark Hearth. Traditionally, cabbage has been an essential winter staple vegetable in northern regions – because of its amazing storage qualities it was THE food that literally got folks through long winters. We think cabbage is highly underutilized in American kitchens and gardens. What other green vegetable can you harvest in the fall and eat in April??? May there be a cabbage revival! Dottenfelder is vigorous with medium large, firm heads that store well into April. We use cabbage as an all-purpose green, in sautés and stir fries. It’s also great chopped and browned in the over with oil and salt. Clint says Dottenfelder makes fantastic sauerkraut. There is some natural diversity of head shape from round, oval to flat – indicative of a diverse genepool and strong variety!

For storage cabbage, start seeds in containers June 1st. Days to germination: 5-8. Transplant outside 7/1, 18-24” apart. Or, sow cabbage seeds directly outside anytime 5/1 – 7/1. If sowing seeds outside, plant 3-4 seeds together in a group ¼ ” deep, spaced 18-24” between groups. Keep seeds evenly moist until germination. Thin to the strongest plant in each group. Protect seedlings from slugs and cabbage plants from deer, groundhogs, and rabbits. Cabbage plants may be eaten by several different species of caterpillars. If they cause damage, hand remove caterpillars or spray organic BT. Plants are hardy and may survive winter outside.