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A historic favorite for early market and home gardeners

hear the charm and utility of the ‘ Early Jersey Wakefield ’ clams , a beloved historical variety cherished by gardeners and nutrient enthusiasts alike . First introduce in the United States in the 1840s , this forgetful - season cabbage quickly won the hearts of gardeners for its reliable maturation and delicious taste .

Whether grown in a wide backyard or a small-scale urban garden , the ‘ Early Jersey Wakefield ’ fits dead , thanks to its thick size .

Not only is the ‘ Early Jersey Wakefield ’ cabbage tardily to grow , but it also has an exceptional flavor , make it the sodding option for making fresh salad or homemade sauerkraut .

A large green leafy cabbage head.

‘Early Jersey Wakefield’ cabbage, shop now!

Continue read to learn more about ‘ Early Jersey Wakefield ’ cabbage ’s history , find out what advanced gardeners are enjoin about this standout variety , and discover a recipe for cabbage slaw that is sure to be a hit this summertime .

History

The ‘ Early Jersey Wakefield ’ cabbage was first grown in the United States by Francis Brill of Jersey City , New Jersey , in 1840 from an existing English variety cite ‘ Early Wakefield . ’

Brill developed ‘ Early Jersey Wakefield ’ in the early 1840s , and it became a local favorite around Jersey City , New Jersey . Peter Henderson , a prominent New York seedsman called “ the father of gardening and ornamental horticulture ” in the United States by his contemporaries , wrote about the salmagundi in his 1867 book , Gardening for net income : A Guide to the Successful Cultivation of the Market and Family Garden :

“ We have experimented with scores of varieties in that time , [ since the 1840s presumably ] and find nothing adequate to it … ”

A scan of the cover of an old seed catalog: “Established 1842. 1868. Annual Descriptive Catalogue of Genuine Wethersfield Garden Seeds. Selected and Grown by R.D. Hawley, Wholesale and Retail Dealer, Warehouse: 492 & 498 North Main St., Hartford Conn."

1868 R.D. Hawley & Co. of Hartford, Connecticut, catalog

Henderson claimed the seeds were in high demand , take down that at several multiplication , seeded player sold for as much as $ 20 per pound — or about five times the charge per unit of other varieties .

The earliest germ catalogue mention of the ‘ Early Jersey Wakefield ’ scratch that Sara Straate , Seed Savers Exchange ’s seed historiographer , could ascertain is in two different 1868 catalogue — R.D. Hawley & Co. of Hartford , Connecticut , and Edward J. Evans & Co. of York , Pennsylvania .

The ‘ Early Jersey Wakefield ’ cabbage became very pop very quickly . The 1872 Peter Henderson & Co. catalog , page 46 , states :

A scan of an old seed catalog page with cabbage listings.

1868 R.D. Hawley & Co. listing of ‘Early Jersey Wakefield’ selling at $1 per ounce, with other varieties marketed as $.25-$.50 per ounce for the same quantity.

“ This variety is grown almost to the censure of all other variety by the contribute market gardeners in the locality of New York ; it is also extensively grown in all role of the county , as the better and most profitable early variety in cultivation . ”

By 1901/1902 , ‘ Early Jersey Wakefield ’ was being sell by no fewer than 180 different seminal fluid companies in the United States and Canada .

This smorgasbord has remain firm the trial run of clock time , but you do n’t call for to just take our Holy Scripture for it . Read what modern gardeners in the SSE community have enunciate about this historical variety .

A scan of an old seed catalog: “1868. Catalogue of Fresh and Genuine Field and Garden Seeds, For Sale By Edward J. Evans & Co., No. 9 North George Street, York, Penn’a. York, Penn’a: Hiram Young, Printer, 1868."

1868 Edward J. Evans & Co. catalog cover

Five-star gardener reviews

“ This is my go - to lettuce every year . It grows very well in southerly Indiana with limited topic with bugs . The flavor is very mild , make it a great summation to things like scroll - less cabbage rolls . The plants do n’t get massive which helps for little space garden . I ’ve grow this in a square ft garden more than once and had success . ”—Roger

“ This has been in our garden for several old age now and we love it . Growing up , I really did n’t care pelf too much … But this one ? A home - running ! ! be intimate it and in fact , we have made homemade sauerkraut from it ! WOW , great kraut ! ! recommend to anyone and is easy to grow!”—Gary

“ This is from a consumer , not a agriculturalist : just had a fantastic salad of shredded ‘ Early Jersey Wakefield’—much easier to cut than the cannonball variety show , and no ‘ cabbagy ’ sapidity . Why do n’t I see this at depot and farmers markets?”—Barbara

A scanned page from an old seed catalog with many cabbage listings with the variety name and variety information.

1868 Edward J. Evans & Co. listing for ‘Early Jersey Wakefield’ cabbage describing the variety as “a popular variety for early marketing, heading well.”

“ I had never grown simoleons before and try this variety show as my starter experience . Boy was it a great pick . I used bt spray throughout the season to combat worms , and the cabbage turned out great . Nice sizing and outstanding flavor . ”—Teresa

get together the bequest and savor the benefit of grow this historical and darling cabbage variety . With its delightful taste , simplicity of growth , and fascinating chronicle , the ‘ Early Jersey Wakefield ’ cabbage is a must - have for any garden .

Learn how to grow and save cucumber seeds

Recipe

submit by Meredith Burks , SSE marketing and communications film director

“ This recipe is from my nifty - grandmother , Eva Kirsch , and is supposedly an sure-enough German recipe , ” says Meredith . “ It is a house favourite for summer potlucks , and it keep really well . ”

INGREDIENTS

A scan of an old seed catalog with black and white line drawings of different crop types, including kale, two types of beets, two types of cabbage, and Brussel’s sprouts.

1872 Peter Henderson & Co. illustration of the ‘Jersey Wakefield’ cabbage

Salad

1 head ofcabbage , quarter and thin slice

1 great cultivated carrot

The cover of an old seed catalog with the words “Peter Henderson & Co’s Seed Catalogue, 1872” and a black and white line drawing of a pile of crops including pumpkin, cabbage, turnips, corn, and carrots.

Henderson’s 1872 catalog cover

1 modest to intermediate onion , finely chopped

1 - 2 pepper , chopped

1 - 2 stubble of celery

A page of an old seed catalog with black and white drawings of rows of cabbage growing in a field, with the words “America’s Standard Early Cabbages. These Peerless Varieties introduced by Peter Henderson are still Unequaled.” Next to longer descriptions of three cabbage varieties: ‘Early Jersey Wakefield’, ‘The Charleston’, and ‘Early Summer’.

Henderson’s 1902 catalog listing for ‘Early Jersey Wakefield’ cabbage

Dressing

¾ cup maize vegetable oil ( or peanut or safflower oil )

1 cup cider vinegar

Old seed catalogue cover with a black and white drawing of a young girl watering a rose bush in a flower garden, and the words “Peter Henderson & Co. 35 & 37 Cortlandt St. New York. Everything for the Garden. 1902. Price 20 cents."

Henderson’s 1902 catalog cover

¼ cup lucre

1 teaspoon Apium graveolens dulce seed

¼ teaspoonful ironical Indian mustard

Two women sit on a couch. The younger woman is holding a young child who is looking up at her.

Meredith Burks, her mother Sue Burks, and great-grandmother Eva Kirsch

1 teaspoon table salt

DIRECTIONS

Salad : Mix all ingredients together . Sprinkle commixture with ½ to ¾ loving cup of cabbage and let it stand at room temperature for two hour .

do : Put all ingredients in a saucepan and bring mixture to a boil . Pour over gelt and toss . Cool to room temperature , then cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hour .

More to research

Shop ' Early Jersey Wakefield ' kale seeds and interpret more stories from our collection .

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