Savoy Cabbage 'Ormskirk Late'

'Ormskirk Late' is a quintessential British winter cabbage, celebrated for its extreme hardiness and reliability in even the coldest regions of the UK. This heritage Savoy variety produces large, solid, drumhead-shaped hearts with the characteristically heavily crinkled and blistered dark green leaves of the Savoy group. It is specifically bred to be harvested in the depths of winter, from December through to March. The texture is wonderfully crunchy, and the flavour is robust and sweet, especially after the leaves have been touched by a few hard frosts, which helps convert starches into sugars. It is an essential component of the traditional British Sunday roast. In the garden, 'Ormskirk Late' requires a firm, fertile, and preferably alkaline soil. It takes a long time to mature, so it should be sown in late spring. Like all brassicas, it needs protection from pigeons and cabbage white butterflies, but its thick, waxy leaves provide some natural resistance to common pests.

Sun: Full sun to partial shade.

Soil: Firm, fertile, moisture-retentive, alkaline soil.

Hardiness: H5 — down to −15°C.