Red Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata f. rubra)
2 sources cited · Verified
The short answer
- Site
- 6+ hours of sun, soil pH 6–7.5
- Biggest risk
- Club root
Red cabbages (Brassica oleracea var. capitata f. rubra) — biennial grown as an annual.
Core growing advice on this page is checked against named horticultural and university-extension sources — see References.
At a Glance
Quick Facts
| Factor | Value |
|---|---|
| Soil pH | 6 - 7.5 |
| Sunlight | 6-6 hours direct sun |
| Soil texture | humus-rich, deep loamy soil (Plantura); fertile, free-draining (RHS) |
| Drainage | well-drained |
| Lifecycle | biennial grown as an annual |
| Edible parts | leaves, head |
Soil & Growing Conditions
Water: consistent moisture, heavy feeder (Plantura)
Soil pH range
Span reflects genuine variation between the cited authorities, not a single agreed figure.
Growth Stages
| Stage | BBCH | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sowing | 0 | Sow 1cm deep indoors in modular trays or 2cm deep outdoors in a drill; timing depends on variety (late winter-mid spring for summer types, mid-spring to early summer for autumn/winter, July for spring cabbages) (RHS). |
| Transplanting | 3 | Move outdoors once seedlings are 10-15cm tall with a good root system; space 40-50cm apart for summer varieties, up to 70cm for autumn/winter varieties (RHS, Plantura). |
| Head formation | 4 | Heavy feeder in humus-rich, deep loamy soil at slightly acidic to slightly alkaline pH; heads develop over the following months (Plantura). |
| Harvest | 8 | Ready 4-6 months after sowing; cut through the stem base once firm (RHS). |
Harvest & Storage
When to pick: Ready 4-6 months after sowing; cut through the stem base once heads reach the desired firmness and size (RHS). Keep refrigerated at least a week; winter varieties store several months in cool, frost-free conditions.
Diseases
Pests
Red Cabbage, Seedling to Harvest
References
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Sow depth 1cm. Timing by variety: summer types February-March (heated) or March-April, autumn/winter types spring, spring varieties July-August. Spacing: summer varieties 40-50cm apart with 50cm between rows; autumn/winter varieties need 70cm, needing extra space and a longer growing period. Thrives in humus-rich, deep loamy soil at a slightly acidic to slightly alkaline pH, full sun to partial shade; a heavy feeder needing nutrient-rich soil. Acts as a natural bioindicator: appears red in acidic soils, blue-hued in alkaline soils. Good companions: carrots, lettuce, onions, beans, tomatoes, thyme, sage; avoid other brassicas nearby. Allow 4+ years before replanting cruciferous vegetables to prevent club root. Can be container-grown, minimum 20cm diameter/depth pot, one plant per container.
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country=UK
2 independent sources are cited for this crop. Where they disagree - soil pH is the clearest case - every figure is preserved rather than averaged into false precision.
Frequently Asked Questions
What soil pH do red cabbages need?
A pH of about 6–7.5. That span reflects genuine variation between the authorities we cite rather than a single agreed figure — the References section lists each source's exact range.
What problems affect red cabbages?
Our data links 1 disease and 3 pests to this crop. See the sections above for each one and how to manage it.
Plan next season before the problems start
Almost everything on this page resolves to your own frost dates rather than the calendar — the last spring frost moves by roughly two months between zone 3 and zone 10. The USA Garden Planner works from your zone so the timing is already decided before the season starts.
Get the USA Garden Planner →Instant PDF download · Written for US growing conditions
Last verified 2026-08-29
Where To Go From Here
Take this crop from reading into a written plan for your own beds.
Plan the next step
Use the printable SoilCommander planner for your region to turn this guide into sowing dates, bed layouts and weekly garden tasks.