In The Garden

by Barry Peters

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There is a large family of edible and ornamental plants whose flowers are composed of four petals arranged in a cross formation: the cabbage or mustard family.
The members of this 'cruciferae' family of plants include more than 1,800 species in this group, including common vegetables, flowering varieties, as well as tiresome weeds.
The foliage has typically a greyish green color and seed pods are usually long and slender. Edible species characteristically have a sharp pungent or peppery flavor. It's often a surprise to learn that alyssum, arabis, candytuft, wallflower and stocks are typical cruciferae ornamentals. Common weeds of the cabbage family are shepherd's purse, with small white flowers and triangular seed pods, and wild mustard, with bright yellow flowers & greyish foliage.
Edible Cruciferae are known as Brassicas, including cabbage, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, kale, broccoli, and cress.
Cabbage was first introduced to North America by Jacques Cartier the French Explorer. As well as the ball cabbages, there are the ruffled leaved Savoys and the cylindrical Chinese cabbages. Cauliflower is available in chartreuse and violet colors as well as the usual white.
Brassicas can be given a head start by seeding early in a greenhouse or cold frame and setting the cold weather resistant plants into the garden in April.
.Members of the Brassica family are susceptible to diseases, therefore do not grow this group in the same soil more than one or two years. Water these thirsty, shallow rooted plants regularly. Stress from dryness, as well as poor drainage, overfertilization and excessive competition will cause cabbage plants to 'bolt' to seed without forming a large firm head.