[sazzy123]

We planted some cabages last year for overwintering, most got damaged by birds and out of the ones we have managed to protect one is forming a head and the other is just growing upwards with no sign of a head.... it is growing leaves inbetween stalk and leaves (if u know what i mean) does it need digging out and composting?  they look like 2 completly diff plants but having never grown these before im not sure what to do.

thanks

[SnooziSuzi]

I have the same problem ;  I overwintered some cabbages but it was my hens that stripped them bare!     

As I have managed to keep them off the rest of the allotment recently the cabbages are starting to recover so I was going to leave them in with some poultry manure for nitrogen to get them to leaf up and it seems to be working.

[Jay Dubya]

Hi, a couple of points, one is bolting to seed pull it up, next year treat yourself to some weldmesh and make some wire cloches you'll keep all your cabs.

[sazzy123]

 thought tha might be the case about bolting, i aways thought they did this if left too long, its never even looked like a cabbage!!! lol

[Stripey_cat]

They'll bolt if they're stressed, or if the soil is too loose or too rich.  If it's not too far gone yet, you could eat it as spring greens.

[peapod]

They'll bolt if they're stressed, or if the soil is too loose or too rich.  If it's not too far gone yet, you could eat it as spring greens.

All Ive done since planting my cabbages caulies and sprouts is jump on the bed and stamp them down.  I didnt do that last year and everything was useless