Red Cabbage
Brassica oleracea var. capitata f. rubra
A leafy rosette-forming plant featuring broad, thick, glaucous grey-green to purplish-blue leaves marked by prominent pinkish-purple veins radiating from central stems.
- Light
- Full sun, requiring 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day.
- Water
- Provide consistent moisture by watering regularly when the top inch of soil feels dry. Avoid waterlogged conditions.
- Growth
- Herbaceous biennial grown as an annual, forming a tight head of overlapping leaves, reaching a mature height of 1 to 2 feet and a similar spread.
Care instructions
Provide full sun exposure for 6 hours or more daily. Maintain evenly moist soil with regular watering, avoiding drought stress. Use rich, well-draining soil with an optimal pH between 6.0 and 7.5. Feed periodically with a balanced fertilizer to support strong foliage development.
Growing details
Sunlight
Full sun, requiring 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day.
Watering
Provide consistent moisture by watering regularly when the top inch of soil feels dry. Avoid waterlogged conditions.
Soil
Prefers fertile, loamy soil with high organic matter and excellent drainage. Ideal soil pH ranges from 6.0 to 7.5.
Hardiness zone
USDA zones 2 through 11, grown as an annual or biennial depending on climate.
Growth habit
Herbaceous biennial grown as an annual, forming a tight head of overlapping leaves, reaching a mature height of 1 to 2 feet and a similar spread.
Bloom season
Yellow, four-petaled flowers appear on tall stalks during the second year of growth if allowed to overwinter.
Propagation
Propagated primarily from seeds sown indoors 4 to 6 weeks before the final frost, or direct-sown in early spring or late summer.
Common pests & issues
Susceptible to aphids, cabbage loopers, and root flies. Prevent issues by using row covers, crop rotation, and maintaining good air circulation.
Similar species
Green cabbage and savoy cabbage, which can be distinguished primarily by leaf coloration and texture rather than general vegetative structure.