Savoy cabbage properties and health benefits

Here are all the properties of Savoy cabbage and the uses of this plant in many cooking recipes, a classic ingredient of natural cuisine.

The Origin

Savoy cabbage (Brassica oleracea), also called cabbage, is a plant known since ancient times for its medicinal properties and currently widespread in Europe and in the USA. It is a typical winter vegetable because it is usually harvested from October to April.

Savoy cabbage properties: composition

Like many plants, Savoy cabbage is mainly made up of water (90%); proteins, fibres, ash, sugar and carbohydrates are also present.

Mineral salts are also well represented, in particular calcium, sodium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, zinc and iron (although not available), and vitamins, especially those of group A, B and E.

Amino acids present in the cabbage include glutamic and aspartic acid, arginine, phenylalanine, isoleucine, leucine, proline, serine, glycine, tyrosine, threonine and valine. It does not contain fat, has few calories, about 30 kCal per hectolitre and is a food that is often indicated by dieticians for low-calorie diets.

Health benefits

The presence of vitamin C attributes a useful action to the verza to counteract the ulcer and, together with the mineral salts, allows to exert a restorative and rebalancing effect on the body.

The diuretic and laxative properties that can be obtained thanks to the consumption of this plant are also well known; the presence of chlorophyll, moreover, makes it advisable to take it in case of anaemia.

Cooking

This vegetable is widely used in many recipes of regional cuisine, a true ingredient of natural cuisine for many soups and creams but also for first courses and vegetable rolls.

Contraindications

We do not recommend the consumption of savoy cabbage if you suffer from irritable colon or hypothyroidism.

How to grow the savoy cabbage

Savoy cabbage is the simplest vegetable to cultivate among those of the cabbage family, brassicaceous or cruciferous.

It adapts very much to the soil and does not fear cold weather. On the contrary a good frost may improve its quality. It is therefore one of the brave winter vegetables, which can populate the vegetable garden at the end of the season.

Its plant is characterized by the classic head that form the cabbage, with particularly rough and wrinkled leaves. It is a biennial cultivation.

Soil and climate suitable for cultivation

Climate. Savoy cabbage is a very rustic plant: it resists frost and is therefore very well cultivated even in the northern regions, its ideal temperature is around 15/20 degrees. Savoy cabbage does not like the heat and is particularly afraid of drought

Land. Savoy cabbage is the most suitable for soil adaptation:

• neutral ph,
• a good presence of organic matter and nitrogen,
• a soil free of stagnation and a little humid.

Seeding period. The ideal is a sowing between May and June.  The plant has the summer to germinate and arrives at a good development in autumn, to mature towards the winter away from the heat and at a time when the garden is often empty.

Where to find the seeds

In case you want to grow savoy cabbage directly in your garden you can find the seeds online on Amazon.

We remind you that the best time to sow the cabbage is in autumn or early winter.