kdubbs said:

Hee hee, Liz… I am an Extension agent! 

 

That is too funny, kdubbs!!  I never know if people have access to ext agents due to those budget cuts.  Here in NC, they are still in each county though they are looking into compacting the extension service into regions like some other states have already done, which I think is sad.  Up in VA, in the regional setup, it's harder to get access to agents.  I ended up having to contact the fellow who used to be local to us up there through Facebook!   

 

Not the kind you're suggesting I consult, though–I'm a 4-H person. 

My daughters did 4-H!!!  I LOVE the 4-H program!!  It was such a great addition to our homeschooling!

I actually get all warm and fuzzy over my jars of canned stuff… don't ask me why.  Canning is one of those things I derive satisfaction from, so I'm not looking to eliminate that.  However, I would like to feel that I'm making better use of my available growing season!

Oh I still do some canning, tomatoes, pickles, peaches (my favorite treat in January is to open a jar of home canned peaches, like opening a jar of sunshine!)  My canning time is at a premium–high time for canning is also high-time for harvesting and selling at the farmer's markets.  I still have the security of having the food, just in a different "format" ; )) I mostly quit freezing broccoli and brussel sprouts (they stay in the garden awaiting harvest all winter), quit canning/freezing carrots, etc, etc.  I was thrilled though to be able to have greens, especially spinach, and lettuces in some form all winter!  Lettuce is one produce that cannot be preserved!

aprilejoi said:

Oh Liz! What you say  makes so much sense to this garden newbie! I had trouble last fall and this spring with plants that just sdin't take off like the seed packet said.

Seed packets are so generalized they're notorious for getting it wrong!  I'd highly recommend going over to GardenWeb, and checking out their forums.  They have forums specifically for regions and many individual states. You can find what will grow and when for your area.

     BTW- Anyone have any thoughts why my spring cabbages are not setting heads? They are otherwise healthy, seed packet said early but …no heads!

Couple of reasons possibly, how close together are they planted? Overcrowding can force cabbage into just producing leaves and not heads.  Also, did they ever go through a dry spell?  This can slow their development into heads.

Liz and BuckeyeGirl- Some of my cabbages are from seed I started in May and some are direct sown. I didn't think they were too close together. There were some dry spells though. Even now we are at nearly 100 degrees. They are planted next to lettuce and I used a shade cloth in the spring. Will they eventually produce a head or should I compost them and replant for fall?

Thank you! And thank you for the GardenWeb suggestion. It looks like something I will learn much from.

I started Flat Dutch Late on March 13th in flats under lights in my house. I planted Copenhagen Market Early right in the garden in early May, maybe April, didn't record that one. They are spaced 1 foot apart and look wonderful. Except for not having an actual cabbage!…Yet?

aprilejoi said:

I started Flat Dutch Late on March 13th in flats under lights in my house. I planted Copenhagen Market Early right in the garden in early May, maybe April, didn't record that one. They are spaced 1 foot apart and look wonderful. Except for not having an actual cabbage!…Yet?

   

The Flat Dutch has a 110 day til maturity date. This is actually a fall/early winter cabbage which may be why it hasn't headed up. I'd leave it in the ground.  It's probably heat-dormant and will head up as the weather cools. 

Copenhagen has a 100 day til maturity date, and is an early spring variety so it should have headed up already. It needs cool weather for most of it's growth so I suspect it has gone heat-dormant too.  It needs to be started about 5 weeks before your last frost date. This variety can take frost and even light freezes. 

So I'd just wait and see what happens.  Did you get both seed from the same source? 

Thanks for your efforts Liz. This website is my favorite as so many of you have a tremendous amount of info that you are willing to share.  I have peeked at the MSU Extension website quite a bit, I thank you for reminding me to continue to use it.

     My cabbages are growing and are very healthy so I will take your advice and just wait…and watch!

     Sometimes , as a gardening newbie, I can get discouraged when something I plant  and fuss over fails to thrive. Last year it was bulbless garlic (yes, this year I pinched off the bloom) and this year I hope it's NOT the headless cabbage. Will I live long enough to get it right?