This annual to biennial or perennial is represented by 7-groups of vegetables. Generally the rounded lobed green to grey or purplish leaves form a dense basal cluster and the small yellow wheel-shaped flowers appear in a raceme from late spring to summer.

Hardiness zones 4 to 11

Brassica oleraceaeis naturally found from Western Europe to the Mediterranean growing in coastal regions and has been cultivated for thousands of years. In its native habitat it is rare but the seven groups below all originated from the same species, Wild Cabbage (Brassica oleraceae) and all are cultivated for food.

It prefers a open to protected sunny position and grows in well-drained, organic rich moist fertile sandy to clay soils that a tending acidic with a pH range of 6.0 to 7.0 and it is advisable to rotate planting sites on a four-year cycle to avoid soil borne diseases. It is a frost, drought and salt spray tolerant

Wild Cabbage and its variations are grown for their edible leaves, roots, flowers and stems. They are planted in domestic vegetable gardens or along borders in cottage gardens and ornamental varieties mass planted for bedding displays.

These vegetables are also cultivated in farms for mass production producing thousands of tonnes for the consumption of global population. They are suitable for coastal or inland regions and establish in one season but are short lived, being annual in cold regions or perennial in warmer regions. These vegetables can be grown in patio pots tubs, planter boxes or on roof gardens during winter or summer but tend to prefer a cooler climate. ID 3186

Brassica (BRAS-ee-ka) oleraceae (awl-lur-RAY-see-uh)

Brassicaceae(brass-ih-KAY-see-ee)
(Cruciferae)
Cabbage, Mustard, Rapeseed, Turnip and Woad Family