The Galician cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. viridis) is a biennial herb grown as a vegetable for human consumption or forage use that belongs to the Brassicaceae family. Commonly known as collard greens, collard greens, open cabbage, horse cabbage or forage cabbage, it is a plant native to Asia Minor and the Mediterranean basin..
It is a variety of the genus Brassica characterized by its large green, firm, smooth, edible leaves of high nutritional value. It has a thick, fibrous and long stem, from which the basal leaves are harvested until completing their annual cycle at the end of autumn..
In general, during the first year the terminal leaves compact at the end of the stem and form a compact mass or cabbage. In the second year, if the crop is maintained in the field, the flower stalk is formed that emits alogamous inflorescences of yellowish tones.
It is traditionally consumed as a dressing in salads, boiled, stews, cooked vegetables or as a garnish for roasts. On the other hand, it is used as a food supplement for livestock and in traditional medicine for its therapeutic properties.
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Herbaceous plant of low growth, short, thick and firm stem, although elongated and woody as it ages, crowned by a compact cabbage. The root system of the pivot type branches at different levels of depth along the main root.
The large light green basal leaves are edible, not very succulent, oval and with slightly curled margins. The whitish inner leaves that form the head or cabbage are clustered in a compact and dense manner at the end of the stem.
The flowers develop during the second annual cycle from a long flower stalk if the plant is kept in the ground. The cluster of terminal inflorescences is formed by large flowers of yellowish or whitish tones.
The small, dark-colored nuts are shaped like a thin pod with pointed ends.
- Calories: 32 kcal
- Total fat: 0.6 g
- Saturated fatty acids: 0.1 g
- Polyunsaturated fatty acids: 0.2 g
- Sulfur: 2.6 mg
- Calcium: 50-250 mg
- Copper: 22 μg
- Phosphorus: 72 mg
- Fluorine: 15 μg
- Iodine: 2 μg
- Iron: 0.5 mg
- Magnesium: 28-35 mg
- Potassium: 200-400 mg
- Selenium: 2.2 μg
- Sodium: 18 mg
- Zinc: 1.5 mg
- Carbohydrates: 4-5 g
- Dietary fiber: 2-4 g
- Sugars: 0.5 g
- Proteins: 1-3 g
- Vitamin A: 5,019 IU
- Thiamine (vitamin B1): 0.06 mg
- Riboflavin (vitamin Btwo): 0.05 mg
- Pyridoxine (vitamin B6): 0.2 mg
- Vitamin C: 35-50 mg
- Vitamin E: 2.5 mg
- Ac. Nicotinic: 0.3 (mg)
- Total folic acid: 90 μg
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Magnoliophyta
- Class: Magnoliopsida
- Order: Brassicales
- Family: Brassicaceae
- Gender: Brassica
- Species: Brassica oleracea
- Brassica oleracea var. viridis L., 1753
- Brassica oleracea var. accept it DC., 1821
Plant with large leaves with curly margins, yellowish-green color and evident veins that do not form cabbage.
Long-stemmed plant, smooth and glossy leaves, the outer ones are glaucous and the inner ones whitish, with an intense aroma.
Plant 60-80 cm tall, curly leaves and whitish veins, lacks cabbage habit.
Variety Brassica oleracea var. viridis It grows on deep clay-loam soils, with a high content of organic matter, pH 6.5-7.5 and well drained. It adapts to temperate climates with an average temperature during the productive stage of 18-25 ºC.
It is a cultivar native to the southern region of the Iberian Peninsula, north of Portugal and Spain, as well as certain regions of France and the United Kingdom. Its commercial cultivation has been introduced to the southern US, Brazil, the Balkan Peninsula, North Africa, and India..
Galician cabbage is mainly made up of water, it also has high levels of fiber, minerals and vitamins, particularly vitamin A, C and K. It also contains calcium, copper, iron, magnesium and sulfur elements that give it a particular smell.
Indeed, the content of various bioactive principles gives it antidiarrheal, antithyroid, diuretic, emollient and expectorant properties. Vitamin C has antiscorbutic properties and vitamin A exerts a cytostatic effect, preventing the appearance of cancerous tumors.
On the other hand, its consumption relieves the symptoms caused by stomach ulcers and acts as a hypoglycemic agent, since it regulates blood sugar levels. The juice obtained from the smoothie of the fresh leaves, sweetened with sugar or honey is an effective natural remedy to alleviate bronchial ailments..
The fresh leaves, crushed and applied as a poultice, allow skin sores and ulcers to heal and heal. In ancient times it was believed that its habitual consumption favored the production of milk in lactating women. In addition, it was used as a natural hangover remedy.
The cultivation of Galician cabbage is established during the spring, while in some regions it is obtained in the wild near the cultivated fields. Sowing is done with certified seeds from plants grown exclusively for commercial seed production.
The plantation is established directly in the ground at a depth of 3 cm, or on germination beds to later transplant to the field. Once the growth of the seedlings begins, a thinning is carried out at 8-10 cm distance between plants.
The transplantation to the definitive ground is carried out 40-45 days after sowing. The sowing density depends on the variety, usually a sowing density of 25-50 cm is used between plants.
Galician cabbage is a biennial plant that is harvested only the first year. The lower leaves are collected and in this way more leaves are produced until the annual cycle is completed..
Propagation is done by seeds during spring and summer, direct sowing can be done or germination beds can be used..
The establishment of the plantation requires full sun exposure.
This species adapts to fertile soils with a high content of organic matter, permeable, deep, humid and slightly alkaline. Some varieties can be grown in large, deep pots with a universal substrate containing 30-40% perlite..
During the summer it requires frequent watering. It is recommended to water every 5-6 days throughout the year, with the exception of summer, which requires watering every 4-5 times a week.
During the entire growth and production phase, it requires the application of organic fertilizers every 25-30 days..
Under adverse conditions the incidence of aphids, aphids, the cabbage caterpillar or cabbage worm and the false meter, snails and slugs is common. Among the diseases, the presence of the bacterium Xa is commonnthomonas campestris pv. campestris causative agent of the disease known as angular spot.
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