All are hardy, cool season crops and all are susceptible to the same insect and disease pests. They do, however, differ in their sensitivity to environmental stress. As a group, the cole crops constitute a very significant commercial enterprise, cabbage being the most important, followed by broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, Chinese cabbage, and many Asian vegetables that are classified in the group. The Asian vegetables do not have wide appeal, but they are gaining in sales as the popularity of ethnic foods increases. The climate of Tennessee is such that it provides a favorable environment for both spring and fall production of several of the cole crops, especially, cabbage, broccoli, and Chinese cabbage.
Some commercial cabbage is produced in nearly every state and is available year round.
In the winter and spring, production moves northward from Florida and Texas with the season to New York and Michigan during the summer and follows the reverse trend in the fall. Tennessee has a window for both spring and fall production. However, certain cultural problems exist for production during both of these seasons in Tennessee. In spring, it is often difficult to get the crop transplanted into the field early enough so that maturity occurs during the market window and before temperature stresses of late spring and early summer exist. With more and more growers having irrigation capabilities, lack of moisture is becoming less of a cultural problem.