Brassica oleracea var. capitata 'Greyhound' is a Hardy Annual classified as a summer or spring cabbage — a group characterised by their pointed, conical hearts, early maturity, and notably sweeter, more tender leaves than round-headed autumn or winter types. It is one of Britain's oldest and most consistently grown pointed cabbage varieties, with a heritage stretching back to at least the early 20th century, and it holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit for its outstanding and reliable performance in British gardens.

Why Pointed Cabbages Taste Better: The flavour difference between 'Greyhound' and a heavy round-headed winter cabbage is significant and worth understanding. Summer and spring cabbages like 'Greyhound' are harvested young, before the leaves have developed the tough cellulose structure and high glucosinolate content of a mature winter head. The result is a softer, sweeter, more delicately flavoured leaf that cooks rapidly and gently — it needs only minutes of heat rather than the prolonged cooking that winter cabbages require, and it rewards light, simple treatment rather than assertive seasoning.

Compact and Space-Efficient: One of 'Greyhound's greatest practical virtues is its modest footprint. The pointed head and short outer leaves mean plants can be spaced at 30–35cm rather than the 45–50cm required by round-headed varieties, making it significantly more productive per square metre of bed space. A single raised bed of 1.2m × 2.4m can accommodate eighteen to twenty plants — enough to provide continuous harvests over six to eight weeks if staggered sowings are made.

Pest Context: As a brassica, 'Greyhound' is susceptible to the standard range of brassica pests — cabbage white butterfly caterpillars, cabbage root fly, aphids, and slugs. The most reliable and effective solution for all of these is fine insect mesh, applied at transplanting and maintained throughout the growing season. This single measure excludes butterflies from laying eggs and prevents root fly damage without any chemical intervention, and is strongly recommended for a consistent, blemish-free harvest.

'Greyhound' is one of the most straightforward brassicas to grow well — its rapid maturity means problems have less time to develop, and its tolerance of cool spring conditions makes it genuinely reliable in the British climate.

How to Sow:
Sow indoors from February to April for summer harvests, or outdoors in a prepared seedbed from March to May. Sow approximately 1cm deep in modules or seed trays at 15–18°C. Germination is fast and reliable — typically 5–8 days. Grow on in a cool, bright environment such as an unheated greenhouse or cold frame — cool-grown transplants establish far more vigorously than soft, warm-grown ones and are significantly less prone to bolting. For a continuous supply, make a new sowing every four to five weeks from February through to May.

Transplanting:
Plant out from April to June once seedlings are 10–15cm tall with a sturdy stem and three to four true leaves. Space plants 30–35cm apart in rows 35–40cm apart — closer than round-headed varieties, reflecting 'Greyhound's compact form. Plant slightly deeper than the seedling was growing in its module, burying the stem up to the lowest leaves for a stronger roothold. Firm the soil thoroughly around each transplant and water in well. Apply fine insect mesh immediately after planting and secure the edges to exclude cabbage white butterflies and root fly completely.

Ongoing Care:
Keep the bed weed-free and water consistently during dry spells in spring and early summer. Check under the mesh weekly for caterpillars — if any have found their way inside, remove by hand immediately. A collar of carpet underlay or brassica collars placed around the base of each transplant at planting time provides additional protection against cabbage root fly, whose larvae attack the stem below soil level. Feed with a balanced general fertiliser at transplanting and a nitrogen-rich liquid feed at mid-season to support rapid head formation.

Harvesting:
Harvest from June to September when the pointed head feels firm and dense to a gentle squeeze but before it begins to split or loosen. Cut at the base with a sharp knife. Unlike some cabbages, 'Greyhound' does not hold well in the ground once mature — harvest promptly and use within a week, or store in the fridge. For the finest flavour, harvest in the early morning when the leaves are cool and fully turgid, and cook the same day.

'Greyhound' is a fast-growing brassica that benefits from active pest management from its companions — these plants from our range provide genuine protection while keeping the productive garden looking beautiful through the summer months:

• 🌼 Nasturtium 'Tom Thumb': The Brassica Bodyguard. Nasturtiums are the classic and most proven companion for all brassica crops. Their pungent aromatic foliage confuses cabbage white butterflies during egg-laying, their vivid flowers attract the hoverflies and parasitic wasps that prey on cabbage white caterpillars, and as a trap crop they draw blackfly away from the more valuable cabbage plants with remarkable consistency. Planted in a ring around or between the cabbage plants, the compact mounds of Tom Thumb fill the available ground, suppress weeds, and create a genuinely attractive edging of bold colour around what can otherwise be a fairly plain brassica bed. Every part of the Nasturtium is edible alongside the cabbage at the table too — peppery leaves and flowers scattered over a summer slaw make a vivid and delicious combination.
• 🧡 Calendula 'Art Shades Mixed': The Brassica's Best Friend. Calendula planted along the edges of the cabbage bed is one of the most consistently recommended and genuinely effective brassica companions in the kitchen garden. Its roots deter the soil-dwelling cabbage root fly larvae that attack brassica stems below ground, while its flowers sustain a continuous population of beneficial hoverflies and parasitic wasps that control cabbage white caterpillar numbers above ground. The warm apricot and cream tones of Art Shades create a beautiful, warm border alongside the cool blue-green of the developing Greyhound heads — a cohesive, naturally appealing potager palette that peaks in late June and July exactly when the cabbages are heading up.
• 🌼 Borage: The Caterpillar Deterrent. Borage has a long traditional association with brassica crops as a deterrent to cabbage worm and whitefly, and its deep taproot improves the soil structure around the cabbage's fibrous root system. Its prolific blue flowers provide sustained nectar for beneficial insects from early summer through to autumn — precisely the window when cabbage white butterfly pressure is at its peak — and the combination of Borage's loose, rough-textured habit with the neat, compact pointed heads of Greyhound creates a pleasingly contrasting pair in the kitchen garden that looks entirely natural and deliberately placed.
• 🌿 Basil Classic Italian: The Aromatic Repellent. Basil planted near cabbages is a well-established aromatic deterrent for the aphids, whitefly, and moths that target brassica crops — its powerful oils confuse the sensory signals that these pests use to locate host plants. On the plate, the combination of Greyhound and fresh basil is surprisingly good: a warm salad of shredded Greyhound cabbage, toasted pine nuts, lemon, and torn fresh basil is a light, summery dish that showcases this variety's sweetness and delicacy at its best — and one that makes very clear why 'Greyhound' belongs alongside basil in the summer kitchen garden.

Sow indoors from February and make a fresh sowing every four to five weeks through to May — then harvest a continuous succession of sweet, tender pointed heads from June right through to September.