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Copenhagen Market Early Cabbage is a Danish heirloom that was introduced by H. Hartmann & Company in 1909! This is one of the most popular home garden variety because of it’s size, wonderful flavor, and crisp texture. This early maturing variety produces 3-4 pound, round heads that can be up to 8 inches across making them perfect if you have limited amount of space!

Sowing: Start your Cabbage seeds inside 8-12 weeks before the last spring frost, planting them in rich soil 1/2 inch deep and 2 inches apart. Because the first crop of cabbage should mature before the heat of summer, plant your seedlings about 4 weeks before the last expected frost; set them 12-18″ apart in rows 3-4′ apart, burying the stems about halfway up. For a fall crop, direct sow or transplant seedlings in midsummer. For companion planting benefits, plant cabbage seeds with aromatic herbs or potatoes; avoid planting them with tomatoes or pole beans. Herbs such as thyme, peppermint, sage, and rosemary will repel the destructive white cabbage moth.

Growing: If hard frosts come, cover the young plants. Mulch around them to regulate soil temperature, and keep the soil moisture even to prevent the cabbages from splitting.

Seed Saving: Late in the fall, mulch at least six different cabbage plants to ensure genetic diversity. If the climate is cold, digging up the entire plant and storing it over the winter will be necessary – keep it in moist sand at a temperature of about 40 degrees F. Replant 4-6 weeks before the last spring frost. If the heads are still firm, cut a deep X in the top to provide an easier exit for the stem. The stem will grow about 4-5′ tall, with many four petaled yellow flowers. Allow the flowers to mature; when the seed pods form, pick them and allow them to dry. Remove them from the pods and store them in a dry, cool place for up to five years.