Cabbage

vegetables · growing food · plant family

Packed with leaves. Cabbage forms a dense head made of many leaves wrapped tightly together, kind of like nature's present with layers you can peel back. This tight packing is what makes it so hearty and long-lasting.

Comes in colors. You can find cabbage in green, red (which is actually purple), or white varieties. Each color tastes slightly different and adds its own special look to meals.

Wild ancestor. All types of cabbage came from a wild plant called wild cabbage that grew along the coasts of Europe. People chose the plants with the best heads and grew them over thousands of years to create the cabbage we eat today.

Broccoli's cousin. Cabbage belongs to a special plant family called brassicas that also includes broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and Savoy cabbage. They all share similar growing needs and tasty nutrients.

Grows as annual. Even though cabbage is technically a biennial plant, farmers grow it as an annual crop by harvesting it after one season. This means you get fresh cabbage to eat every year without waiting for it to flower.