Monday, June 6, 2011

Mislabelled Harvest Monday

When I planted these cabbage in the spring, the label read 'fast growing, green cabbage.' I assumed these were Brassica oleracea or European cabbage so I only have myself (the labeller) to blame when I realized, some time later, that they are Chinese cabbage or Brassica rapa. At any rate, they are still tasty (and green and quick growing and a cabbage). Normally I wouldn't plant these until the fall because of their tendency to bolt before forming large heads. They grew to a descent size before the florets began to show. Besides, mistakes form the basis for 50% of my gardening education. My conclusion, however, remains the same. Growth is better in the fall and clear labelling is a must when seed saving.

Photobucket

Not to worry, there is still lots of long season cabbage growing in the garden that came from well labelled seed.

10 comments:

Unknown said...

Still looks pretty none the less ;)

Megan said...

Mistakes being 50% of gardening education is so true! :) At least it's not something you hated and never wanted to plant again!

kitsapFG said...

Glad to hear I am not the only one who does things like that. :D

That's a nice head of cabbage though!

michelle said...

You made me chuckle, at least 50% of my garden education has come from mistakes! It is a beautiful head of cabbage.

Debbie in MS said...

Harvest is harvest!! Looks good to me!

I learn so much through my mistakes and experiments.

Barbie~ said...

Shoot if mistakes were only 50% of my education I still wouldn't know much! ;-) Your cabbage is beautiful if nothing else.

Robin said...

That is one pretty cabbage! What would gardening be without mistakes? Sometimes the mistakes turn out the best!

Shawn Ann said...

It's a lovely mistake! ;)

Daphne Gould said...

Chinese cabbage always grows better for me in the fall too, but I always plant some in the spring because I love it enough to try. I've found it fine to eat when it starts to bolt, so I just pick it at the first sign. And then there are peas, which really only grow well in the spring, but sometimes I plant for a tiny fall harvest.

Daphne Gould said...

I so love the Chinese cabbage. I like it more than regular cabbage, though both are good.