Red cabbage varieties: an overview of early & late varieties

The variety of red cabbage varieties is virtually limitless; they generally differ in taste, color and the time of sowing and harvesting. You can find out from us which varieties are available and what distinguishes them.

The red cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata f. rubra) is one of the most famous and popular winter vegetables. In order to bring a little more variety to the local vegetable garden and on the plate, it is advisable to try different varieties every now and then. The red cabbage varieties differ fundamentally in their time of ripening: There are early, medium and Late ripening varieties, their development and maturity on the duration of daylight and temperature during vegetation being affected. For a good harvest, one should pay attention to the demands of the respective variety - early varieties should not be sown too late and late red cabbage varieties not very early. There are also subtle differences in taste, color and density of the leaves. Here you can find out which types of red cabbage exist, what they are used for and what makes them stand out. About the

Care and harvest of red cabbage we report in our overview article on red cabbage.

Early ripe red cabbage varieties

Early red cabbage varieties can be sown from late January to early March in heated greenhouses, heated cold frames or in a comparable frost-free location. After pricking and further cultivation in the cold frame, greenhouse or in a sheltered bed, harvesting can take place between May and August. Popular varieties are:

• ‘amaranth‘: The red cabbage variety ‘Amarant’ is one of the early-ripening varieties. "Amaranth" has a short stalk and round, relatively small heads. It has a fine taste typical of red cabbage.
• 'Topaz': The ‘Topas’ variety has a high tolerance to cold and is characterized by its vigor. This makes this early variety attractive for colder regions. The large, heavy heads of ‘Topas’ have a long stalk and cannot be stored for long.

• ‘Cabeza Negra‘: The ‘Cabeza Negra’ variety, also known as Schwarzkopf, is characterized by its large, black and red binders. They are the distinguishing feature of the variety and form a round, solid head. In addition, the high cold tolerance and the good shelf life are special features of the ‘Cabeza Negra’, which makes it a good variety for cold locations. Because of its fine taste, the variety is used as a raw vegetable or as a cooked accompaniment to hearty dishes.
• 'Marner early red': ‘Marner Frührot’ is an early-ripening French variety that is valued for its robustness and beautiful cabbage heads. The vigorous heads can weigh up to 2.5 kg and are medium to good storable.

Medium early red cabbage varieties

If you want to harvest summer cabbage varieties, you should sow the seeds of the corresponding varieties in March or early April. Suitable places for sowing are unheated cold frames or beds covered with warming, transparent plastic sheeting. From May the young plants from the cold frame can be put into the bed. A harvest is usually possible between July and the beginning of November. The best varieties include:

• ‘Integro F1‘:‘ Integro F1 ’is a medium-early, fast-growing and burst-resistant variety that develops small, rounded heads. It is ideally suited for cultivation in colder regions with late frosts. ‘Integro F1’ is relatively easy to store and very robust against diseases.
• ‘RoxyF1 ′: ‘Roxy F1’ is a tried and tested, early-ripening variety, which is characterized by its very good storability, vigor, intense color and good taste. The heads are round and weigh up to 2.5 kg, depending on the planting. "Roxy F1" is particularly robust against diseases.
• ‘garnet‘: ‘Garnet’ is a medium-early, high-yielding red cabbage variety that can be stored very well despite its rapid growth. Because of its rapid growth, ‘Granat’ also delivers high yields in regions with a short growing season. The heads can weigh up to 2 kg and grow very firmly.

• ‘Rodynda‘: A popular medium early variety is ‘Rodynda’, which has a short stem and an oval head. It is characterized by a sweet, strong aroma. It also has strong roots, which makes it more tolerant of shorter periods of drought. Its medium shelf life makes ‘Rodynda’ an ideal autumn vegetable that can be used primarily as raw food.
• ‘Tinty F1‘: The‘ Tinty F1 ’variety is probably a cross between red and pointed cabbage. The fast-growing heads are loosely packed. Because of its poor shelf life, ‘Tinty F1’ should be consumed as soon as possible after harvest. Cabbage is particularly suitable as a raw food and as a side dish to fish because of its mildly sweet taste.
• ‘Calibos‘: Also ‘Kalibos’ is a cross between red cabbage and pointed cabbage, which is why it is also called red pointed cabbage or pointed red cabbage. The fast-growing heads have a good taste and an appealing texture. The intense red leaves are loosely packed so that the head weight is sometimes less than one kilogram. ‘Kalibos’ is particularly tasty as a side dish to fish or raw vegetables.

Late ripening red cabbage varieties

The slowly developing late and very late red cabbage varieties are also sown in a cold frame or under a tarpaulin between March and early April. In addition, these varieties can be used for subsequent sowing in April and May, so that the late red cabbage can be harvested from October to December.

• ‘Marner Lagerrot‘: The very easy to store French variety‘ Marner Lagerrot ’can be harvested until late autumn. The later the variety is sown, the better it can be stored. ‘Marner Lagerrot’ retains its dark purple color and the firmness of the leaves and their aromatic taste very well even when stored for several weeks. The round heads are medium in size, tightly layered and closed.
• ‘Autoro F1‘:‘ Autoro F1 ’is a robust variety that forms medium-sized, heavy heads and can remain in the bed for a long time without bursting or rotting. Thanks to their late sowing, harvesting can take place in late autumn and winter, usually until after Christmas. The evenly round heads are easy to store and taste particularly good as raw vegetables or as a side dish.

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