Planting, growing & harvesting red cabbage: tips for a successful harvest

Growing red cabbage: what you need to know

Red cabbage (Brassica oleracea convar. capitata var. rubra) belongs to the cruciferous family (Brassicaceae). You can find an overview of the most popular cabbages for growing in the garden in this article. Head cabbage is also popularly known as red cabbage or blue cabbage. Red cabbage was first mentioned in the 12th century by Hildegard von Bingen, who called it "rubaceae caules". Even then, it was cultivated as a popular winter vegetable as it is easy to grow and stores well. It is very similar in texture to white cabbage, but differs mainly in the bluish-purple color of its leaves. This is due to the anthocyanins, secondary plant substances, it contains. Anthocyanins act as antioxidants for us. It is also rich in vitamins B and C and contains important minerals such as potassium, calcium and chloride.

The right location

Red cabbage feels most at home in a sunny spot. However, if it gets very hot in summer, it is better to plant it in partial shade as it is sensitive to heat. As a heavy feeder, cabbage prefers a loose, humus-rich soil. This provides it with sufficient nutrients and even moisture. The soil can also be slightly calcareous. If your soil is rather sandy, it is best to mix compost or fertilizer into the soil the autumn before. The red cabbage will also tell you the pH value of your soil. If it grows in slightly acidic soil, it tends to turn blue. If it grows in slightly alkaline soil, its leaves will turn more purple-red.

Red cabbage in a mixed culture: companion plants

Red cabbage thrives well next to lettuce, celery, legumes and herbs. Tomatoes also make good neighbors. They repel cabbage white butterflies and cabbage flies with their scent. Bad neighbors are mainly other cabbage plants. It is very important to note that there should be at least 2 years between the cultivation of cabbages in the same bed. This helps to prevent cabbage hernia and many other pests. It also allows the soil to regenerate and replenish its nutrient reserves. If you would like to read more about mixed cultivation with cabbage, you will find everything you need to know in our article.

Table: companion plants for red cabbage plants

Mixed crop planting plans with red cabbage: examples & ideas

Mixed cultivation brings you many advantages as a gardener. To give you inspiration for your mixed cultivation with red cabbage, we have prepared a few bed plans for you.

Finding the right type of red cabbage

Even though all varieties prefer the same location and require the same care, there are many varieties that differ in terms of growth, shape and color. Above all, however, the harvest time and weight vary between the different varieties. While early varieties have a shorter vegetation period and therefore usually form smaller heads, late varieties have enough time to form a large, firm head. These large heads are easier to store.

• "Amarant" is an early red cabbage variety. It forms round, medium-sized heads and has a short stalk. (Harvest: mid-June - end of August)
• "Granat" is a fast-growing red cabbage variety and can therefore produce good yields even with a shorter growing season. This variety can be stored. (Harvest: August - end of October)
• "Rodynda" is a late red cabbage variety that can be stored. It has a firm, oval head and a short stalk. The heads are sweet and aromatic and are therefore also suitable for eating raw, e.g. in salads. (Harvest: mid-September - end of October)

So it's best to think about when you want to harvest the red cabbage, whether you prefer smaller or larger heads and what you want to use it for. For a continuous harvest from June to November, you can also combine early and late varieties.

Discover many red cabbage varieties in our library

In our library, you will find information on numerous varieties of red cabbage with cultivation periods, planting and harvesting tips. You will also find companion plants to help you plan a mixed crop.

View library now

Planting and sowing red cabbage: in the garden, raised bed or pot

Sowing and propagating red cabbage: It's that easy

Red cabbage is usually pre-grown and then planted out. With direct sowing, it is easier for the cabbage to sprout if the growing temperatures are too low, i.e. to form flowers early. You can start propagating red cabbage in January to March. Until the seed has germinated, it needs temperatures of approx. 16 - 20 °C/60 - 68 °C. For the young plants, 12 °C/54 °F is sufficient. However, it should not be colder than this, otherwise the plants will tend to sprout.

Planting red cabbage: spacing and timing

Depending on the variety, you can then plant the seedlings outdoors between the beginning of April and the end of June . When planting out, there should be a distance of 50 cm/19.7 in between the rows and 40 cm/15.7 in between the plants. Plant the cabbage as deep as possible, but make sure that the growing point is still above the soil. The cotyledons should be just above the soil.

Proper care and fertilization of red cabbage

As long as the plants are young and small, they can easily be suppressed by weeds. You should therefore regularly mulch the red cabbage with straw, compost or other herbs such as nettles. This also helps to stimulate root growth and promote the water supply. The cabbage always needs enough water and nutrients to form a nice big head. You can add a layer of compost about 2.5 cm/1 in thick once a year as fertilizer. According to Charles Dowding's no-dig method, this is enough fertilizer for the whole season for no-dig beds. "Normal" beds may need a little more compost. You can also mound up the soil around the plant. This will give the cabbage more stability and protect it from pests. If you don't have compost, you can also fertilize with liquid manure at the same intervals. Nettle manure is suitable for cabbage. However, this can attract cabbage white butterflies. As red cabbage is a heavy feeder, you should prepare the soil in the fall and work in some compost.

Preventing diseases and pests

The best way to combat diseases in cabbage is prevention. If the cabbage has sufficient nutrients and an aerated location, it is well equipped. It is also important to remove all harvest residues from the cabbage after harvesting and to leave at least 2 years in between until the next cabbage crop. This will allow the soil to regenerate after the heavy crop. In addition, this prevents "typical" cabbage diseases and pests from taking hold.

Typical cabbage diseases at a glance:

• Black rot: A bacterial disease in which black-brown spots spread across the top of the leaves.
• Downymildew: Causes necrotic spots, the areas look dead and gray. You can find out all about downy mildew and how to combat it here.
• Drought spot: A fungal disease in which dark, brown spots appear on stems and leaves. The infected leaves turn yellow and fall off.

Typical pests of cabbage:

• Cabbage white butterfly: This white butterfly lays its eggs at the bottom of the cabbage leaves. When the caterpillars hatch, they feed on the leaves. You can find tips on combating cabbage white butterflies in this article.
• Cabbage scale insects: Also known as whiteflies, they can cover the underside of leaves with wax and honeydew excrement. However, they are considered to be minor pests.
• Aphids: Cabbage aphids are gray-green and suck sugar and nutrients from the leaves. You can find out how to control and prevent aphids in this article.

Harvest time: harvesting and storing red cabbage

As already mentioned in the section on red cabbage varieties, the best time to harvest the heads depends entirely on the variety and the purpose. With early varieties, harvesting can start as early as mid-July. They tend to produce small, tender heads that taste very good raw and should be processed quickly. Late varieties, on the other hand, are harvested from August to November . As soon as the red cabbage has reached the desired size, remove the outer leaves and cut off the head at the stem.

Harvest before the first frost

If you want to store the cabbage, leave it standing for as long as possible. However, it should be harvested before the first few days around 0 °C/32 °F, as it can crack open due to frost. To do this, pull it completely out of the soil and roughly knock the soil off the stalk. If the stalk has been damaged or cut off, it is susceptible to rotting at this point. You can leave the outer leaves on if they are healthy. These protect the cabbage from drying out. Place the cabbage in airy wooden crates and cover them with jute sacks or an old towel. Check the crates regularly for rot or mold. The right storage location is cool and dark.

Processing & preserving red cabbage

Red cabbage has many uses in the kitchen thanks to its sweet and mild cabbage flavor. It tastes great raw in salads or wraps, for example. Cooked, it is a popular accompaniment to many dishes.

Red cabbage recipe to make yourself:

• 1 kg/2.2 pd red cabbage
• 50 g/1.8 fl. oz. lard or butter
• 1 onion
• 2 apples
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 2 tbsp vinegar
• ¼ liter/8.75 fl.oz. water
• 4 tbsp red wine
• 2 tsp flour, to thicken
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 cloves
• salt

And this is how it works:

Clean and wash the red cabbage first. Then cut the head into quarters and remove the stalk. You can then either slice or finely chop the quarters. Next, dice the onions and apples and sauté them in the fat. As soon as you add the red cabbage, pour the vinegar over it. This will give your red cabbage a nice color. Cover the pan with a lid and leave the cabbage to steam. After 10 minutes, pour in about ¼ liter of water and add some salt and the spices. Then leave to simmer for another 30 - 45 minutes until the red cabbage is soft. You may need to add a little more water in between. When the red cabbage is ready, season it with the red wine. You can also thicken it with flour if you wish.
Red cabbage is a great side dish for roasts, braised meat, game or poultry. But it can of course also be combined very well with other dishes.

We hope you now have everything you need to grow red cabbage yourself. If you have any questions or comments, please write to us at [email protected] or share your experiences with us on social media. To never miss another article, follow us on Instagram and Facebook or sign up directly for our newsletter.

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Source: Charles Dowding, #No Dig, 2023, Munich: Dorling Kindersley Verlag GmbH