Cabbage is a leafy vegetable from the species Brassica oleracea, closely related to broccoli, cauliflower, and kale. It grows as a tight, layered head of leaves and comes in several varieties — green, red (purple), savoy (crinkly-leafed), and white (sometimes called Dutch) cabbage. Each variety has a slightly different flavour and texture, but all share a mild, slightly peppery taste.
Cabbage has been cultivated for thousands of years, with origins in the Mediterranean and western Europe. It became a staple crop across Europe and Asia because it grows readily in cool climates, stores well, and can be preserved through fermentation — sauerkraut and kimchi being the most well-known examples.
It’s eaten raw in slaws, braised, stir-fried, stuffed, fermented, and added to soups and stews. Cabbage is inexpensive, available year-round in Australia, and remains one of the most accessible vegetables globally.
How it's produced
Cabbage is grown from seed, usually transplanted as seedlings into open fields. It’s a cool-season crop that grows best in temperatures between 15°C and 20°C, though modern varieties tolerate a wider range. The plants form heads over 70 to 120 days depending on the variety. Heads are harvested by cutting them from the stem at ground level, either by hand or with mechanical harvesters.
In Australia, cabbage is grown commercially year-round by staggering plantings across different climate zones — primarily in Victoria, Queensland, and Western Australia. Pest management focuses on caterpillars (particularly cabbage moth and diamondback moth), which are the crop’s most persistent challenge. After harvest, cabbages store well in cool conditions for weeks to months.
What it costs the planet (per kilo)
≈ Estimated from its category — typical for vegetables, not measured for this item yet. Sources & methods →
Keeping it
In the freezer: 300–360 days (from date of purchase).
In the fridge: 7–14 days (from date of purchase).
Advice from Cubud’s own keeping notes — how to keep it, not a measured number.
What comes from this
Your household's take
One thumb per person, shared with your household — it steers what the wider-web shelf and the swap chips offer you. Tap again to take it back.
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