Cabbage craze

Margie Wright, a resident of the Forest Grove subdivision south of Chandler, found an unusual sight in front of West Lake Baptist Church on south FM 315. A few months ago she was surprised to see several flats of cabbage plants left by the Bonnie Plants company.

"They were just there with a flier explaining what to do with them," Wright said.

Wright took some cabbage plants out of one of the boxes and brought them back to her home for planting. Two months later, the cabbages are almost ready.

"They're big," Wright said. "If I made a circle with my arms, the cabbages are bigger than the circle."

Wright planted two cabbages.

The cabbage flier stated the cabbages should be planted in full sunlight in a four-foot by four-foot plot of land. Cabbages as large as 50 pounds have been recorded.

Wright's plants are currently in the loose leaf stage, with the leaves of the cabbage not yet touching. When the leaves form a head the cabbages will be ready to eat.

"One leaf will make a meal for my husband and me," Wright said.

Alan Keith, an employee of Bonnie Plants in route sales, said the company gives away these cabbages every year by dropping them off at schools and churches.

"It helps get people acquainted with our product," Keith said.

The company runs a program where third grade students compete to grow the largest cabbage. The prize is a $1,000 scholarship, and it is offered to one student from each state.

Keith said any wanting more information about the company can find it at www.bonnieplants.com.

The company has been running the scholarship program for about eight years, Keith said. Cabbages have gone to churches for several years as well, though not for as long as the school program.