Brassica carinata
| Brassica carinata | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Self Pollinated | |
| Height: | 3' |
| Speed: | Fast |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Brassica carinata (common name: abyssinian cabbage)
Propagation: Seed - sow in situ in succession from March to early September. The seed can also be sown under cloches in February when it will yield a crop in May.
Cultivation: Succeeds in full sun in a well-drained fertile preferably alkaline soil[1]. Succeeds in any reasonable soil[2].
This species is very tolerant of a wide range of climatic conditions but it prefers a range of 15 - 20°c in the day with a diurnal range of 5 - 6°c and moderate rainfall[1].
Cultivated for its edible leaves in some areas, plants that are given some protection from the cold can supply edible leaves all through the winter[2]. There are some named varieties. 'Texsel' is especially good for temperate climates, it is fast growing even at relatively low temperatures[3][1].
Range: N. Africa - Ethiopia. Occasional in Britain.
Habitat: An occasional bird-sown alien on waste ground in Britain.
Edibility: Leaves and young stems - raw or cooked[4][2][5][3]. Used when up to 30cm tall[6]. A mild and pleasant cabbage flavour[K], the young growth can be cut finely and used in mixed salads, whilst older leaves are cooked like cabbage leaves[6].
Immature flowering stems - cooked. Used like broccoli[6], they make a nice vegetable[K].
An edible oil is obtained from the seed[6]. Oil from the wild species is high in erucic acid, which is toxic[3], though there are some cultivars that contain very little erucic acid and can be used as food[K].
The seed can also be crushed and used as a condiment[1].
Pollinators: Bees
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: The oil contained in the seed of this species is rich in erucic acid which is toxic. However, modern cultivars have been selected which are almost free of erucic acid.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Larkcom, Joy. Salads all the Year Round. Hamlyn, 1980.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Carruthers, S. Alternative Enterprises for Agriculture in the UK. Centre for Agricultural Strategy, Univ. of Reading, 1986.
- ↑ Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.