Sarah_cox's Outbox

Thanks very much for that. The packet just says "Orient Surprise F1" which sounds like a Chinese racing car rather than a cabbage, and you are absolutely right about it going to seed prematurely: it did. We sowed it early in June (the packet said June to August but it could have meant late June) and harvest August to September, but the rate at which they grew, by August there would have been nothing left as the centres were starting to rot. "Sting" may have been a bit melodramatic on my part: I don't mean like a nettle, more like a thistle. It left no lasting damage after we let go but it did leave a painful sensation that made us very unwilling to put it anywhere near a sandwich. It was more than "hairy" and not at all pleasant. Could the prickles be due to planting too early also or have we just managed to create some kind of freak specimin? Unfortunately I have no photos as my husband had a strop when he realised they had gone to seed and composted the lot.