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Annual Biennial

Brassica rapa (Pekinensis Group) 'Vitimo'

Chinese cabbage 'Vitimo'

A compact, upright, annual vegetable with barrel heads. Each barrel head has attractive dark-green outer leaves and a contrasting yellow heart. Suitable for close planting in a raised bed or containers and is usually ready to harvest 55 days from sowing

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Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metres
Time to ultimate height
1 year
Ultimate spread
0.1–0.5 metres
Growing conditions
Loam
Clay
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Neutral, Alkaline
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring
Summer Green White
Autumn Green White
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H3
Botanical details
Family
Brassicaceae
Native to GB / Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Columnar upright
Genus

Brassicas can be annual, biennial or perennial plants, most are upright with alternate, often glaucous leaves, long taproots and clusters of cross-shaped, yellow or white flowers. The genus includes a number of species bred to produce food crops, such as cabbages, turnips, mustards and oilseed rape, as well as others grown for their ornamental value

Name status

Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, moist but well drained soil in full sun. Sow indoors between May-July or direct sow into a well prepared seedbed. Direct sow at a depth of 1cm with 30cm between rows, thin out later to 30cm between each plant when large enough to handle. Sow indoors in trays of free draining seed compost and lightly cover with vermiculite and place in a propagator at 20-25C until germination. Once germinated grow in cooler conditions, transplant when the seedlings have 2-3 true leaves, harden off for 7-10 days before planting in final position. See Vegetable Cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by seed. See sowing vegetable seeds

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Patio and container plants
Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to birds, flea beetle, cabbage caterpillar, cabbage whitefly, cutworms, slugs and snails, mealy cabbage aphid, cabbage root fly

Diseases

May be susceptible to club root, downy mildew, black rot, leaf spot, grey mould

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