Red cabbage varieties: early and late varieties at a glance

The variety of red cabbage varieties is almost limitless, they generally differ in taste, color and when they are sown and harvested. You can find out from us which varieties are available and what makes them special.

The red cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata f. rubra) is one of the best known and most popular winter vegetables. In order to bring a little more variety to your local vegetable garden and to your plate, it is advisable to try out different varieties from time to time. The red cabbage varieties differ fundamentally in their ripening time: There are early, middle and Late-ripening varieties whose development and maturity depend on the length of daylight and temperature during vegetation being affected. For a good harvest, one should pay attention to the requirements of the respective variety - early varieties should not be sown too late and late red cabbage varieties should not be sown 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 there are, what they are used for and what makes them special. About the

Caring for and harvesting red cabbage we report in our overview article on red cabbage.

Early ripe red cabbage varieties

Early varieties of red cabbage can be sown from the end of January to the beginning of March in heated greenhouses, heated cold frames or a comparable frost-free location. After pricking out and further cultivation in the cold frame, greenhouse or in a protected bed, it can be harvested between May and August. Popular varieties are:

• ‘amaranth‘: The red cabbage variety 'Amaranth' is one of the early ripening varieties. 'Amaranth' forms a short stalk and round, relatively small heads. It has a fine, red cabbage-typical taste.
• 'Topaz': The 'Topas' variety has a high tolerance to cold and is characterized by vigour. 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 variety 'Cabeza Negra', also called Schwarzkopf, is characterized by its large, black-red binders. They are the distinguishing feature of the variety and form a round, firm head. In addition, the high cold tolerance and the good storability are special features of the 'Cabeza Negra', which makes it a good variety for cold locations. The variety is used because of its fine taste as a raw vegetable or as a cooked side dish for hearty dishes.
• ‘Marner Frührot’: 'Marner Frührot' is an early-ripening French variety that is valued for its robustness and beautiful heads of cabbage. The vigorous heads can weigh up to 2.5 kg and have a medium to good storability.

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 warm, transparent plastic sheets. From May, the young plants from the cold frame can be placed in 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 forms round, small heads. It is ideal for growing in colder regions with late frosts. 'Integro F1' can be stored relatively well and is very resistant to diseases.
• ‘RoxyF1′: 'Roxy F1' is a tried-and-tested, early-ripening variety that is characterized by its very good storability, vigour, intense color and good taste. The heads are round and, depending on the planting, weigh up to 2.5 kg. 'Roxy F1' is particularly robust against diseases.
• ‘garnet‘: 'Granat' is a medium-early, high-yielding red cabbage variety that can be stored very well despite its rapid growth. Due to 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 mid-early variety is 'Rodynda', which forms a short stem and an oval head. It is characterized by a sweet, strong aroma. It also has a strong root system, which makes it more tolerant of shorter dry periods. Its medium shelf life makes 'Rodynda' an ideal autumn vegetable that can be used primarily as a raw vegetable.
• ‘Tiny 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 an accompaniment to fish because of its mildly sweet taste.
• ‘Calibos‘: 'Kalibos' is also 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 good flavor and an appealing texture. The intense red leaves are loosely packed, so that the head weight is sometimes less than a kilogram. 'Kalibos' is particularly delicious as an accompaniment to fish or as a raw vegetable.

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 allow subsequent sowing in April and May, so that the late red cabbage can be harvested from October to December.

• ‘Marner Lagerrot': The very well storable French variety 'Marner Lagerrot' can be harvested until late autumn. The later the variety is sown, the better the storability. 'Marner Lagerrot' retains the dark violet color and the firmness of the leaves and their aromatic taste very well even after storage for several weeks. The round heads are medium in size, tightly layered and closed.
• ‘Author 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. Due to their late sowing, they can be harvested in late autumn and winter, usually until after Christmas. The evenly round heads are easy to store and taste particularly good as raw food or as a side dish.

Were you able to decide on one of the numerous special types of red cabbage? We'll give you tips on how to do it Plant red cabbage properly can.