Cabbage is one of the first plants to be planted in the ground, and if you choose the right cabbage varieties, they will keep for several months after harvest.
Each type of cabbage is designed for different dishes or recipes. You may need kale or tough leaves that can be used to make a few pounds of kale salad.
You can store the cabbage downstairs in the root cellar for several months so it can be eaten in the middle of winter.
Let’s take a look at some of the best cabbage varieties for your garden.
14 best cabbage varieties for your garden
Regardless of where you live now, you can grow different varieties of cabbage. Cabbage grows in USDA hardiness zones 1-10, but you need to choose the right variety for your growing area.
You also need to look at the ripening rate for each species. If you have a shorter growing season, harvest the earlier cabbage. If you have a long growing season, you can grow both early and late kale.
So, here are 16 different types of cabbage (with image) that you can grow in your garden.
Early cabbage – ripening in 50-70 days
1. Erlian cabbage
As the name suggests, Earliana is one of the earliest kale on the market today. You can expect to be harvested within 60 days. This means that after two months, full heads of cabbage may appear in your garden.
Earliana heads only weigh about 2 pounds, which is why they develop so quickly. The heads are usually 4-5 inches in diameter. For best results, you need to provide the Earliana heads with full sunlight and space the plants 18-24 inches apart.
2. Golden cabbage
Here is another early cabbage variety perfect for small gardeners. You can plant this variety closer; they typically require a maximum distance of 15-18 inches from each other. So, if you have a small garden, you can fit more in the area.
Golden Acre cabbage produces heads of cabbage 5-7 inches in diameter, all uniform, round and tightly folded. Ripen in 65 days!
This type of cabbage is best for full or partial sunlight and requires soil with added organic matter such as compost. You will find that Golden Acre is a frost-hardy variety that resists yellowing.
3. Gonzales Cabbage
This cabbage variety produces mini cabbages that are 4-6 inches across and 1-2 pounds in weight.
They are not the largest species you can grow in your garden, but since you can harvest them in just 55 days after planting, it makes sense.
Gonzales cabbage stands out for producing deep blue-green softball-sized cabbages. They are dense, hard heads of cabbage, resistant to splitting.
The size of these heads is ideal; you can use one for two servings or one large meal. Plus, they’re ready in less than two months; who can complain about this?
4. Cabbage.
Parel cabbage is another early season cabbage that can be harvested in 45-50 days. This means that it takes 6-7 weeks to grow mature heads. This is amazing!
Parelia sprouts produce dense, compact green heads of cabbage that grow well in a small space. The outer leaves are bluish-green in color, protecting the white head of cabbage. You will find that the leaves are juicy and sweeter than some of the other varieties.
The great thing about growing cabbage varieties that can be harvested so quickly is that you can grow them multiple times in a single growing season. You can also sow seeds outdoors in summer, as they grow very quickly.
You can use Parela cabbage in many recipes. It is well suited for raw salads and salads, as well as for pickling or frying.
Mid-season cabbage – ripening in 70-90 days
5. Jersey Wakefield Early Cabbage
Early Jersey began in the United Kingdom, but has now become a classic in the United States as well. It was introduced in the 1840s and was later sold commercially.
This variety has a heart-shaped or cone-shaped head that forms a spike. The leaves are pale green and each head will weigh 3-4 pounds. Heads of cabbage can be harvested approximately 70 days after planting.
6. Red cabbage.
If you are looking for a vibrant purple-red cabbage head, Red Acre is a fantastic choice for your garden and will make it stand out on your plate.
Compared to other varieties, you will notice that it tastes sweet when used in salads or kale salad recipes.
You can grow Red Acre in USDA zones 3-9, but make sure you plant in full sunlight. Make sure this strain has adequate drainage and plenty of water.
If you are convinced that he has ideal conditions, you can expect the heads to weigh 4 pounds. They will be ready to harvest in 75-90 days.
7. Brunswick
Brunswick cabbage matures in 85-90 days under optimal conditions. This variety is ideal if you are looking for a cabbage that can be stored throughout the winter.
This is a German relic created decades ago, and you can expect your solid heads to weigh 6 to 9 pounds.
Northern gardeners find Brunswick cabbages a fantastic choice because they are hardy. You should plan for planting in the spring or fall, depending on the season.
Each plant requires 18-24 inches of full sunlight space to reach its maximum size.
8. Charleston Wakefield
Image source – https://hosstools.com/product/charleston-wakefield-cabbage
Do you want a family heirloom with a rich history? Charleston Wakefield is an open-pollinated cabbage variety that dates back to the 1890s.
You can grow it throughout most of the United States, even in the southern states, because it is heat tolerant.
The heads of cabbage are dark green, conical in shape, and the leaves are compacted together. Each head weighs 4 to 6 pounds and takes 70 to 80 days to mature.
If you want the heads to reach their maximum size, make sure you place the plants 18-24 inches apart.
Late season or cabbage – ripening in 90-125 days
9. King of January
Here is one of the hardiest winter cabbages you can grow! The King of January is a family cabbage variety that also attracts attention with its massive green and purple leaves. The leaves are sweet and tender for recipes.
King cabbages in January weigh between 3 and 5 pounds and take 150-200 days to mature. This means that not all gardeners can grow this cabbage; a long growing season is needed.
Cold-resistant plant for winter storage and winter gardening.
Make sure you plant the January King in full sunlight and place the plants at least 18-24 inches apart. If you give it the opportunity to expand, you can get big heads.
10. Late flat Dutch
The more the better, right? If you share this view of gardening, you will want to include Late Flat Dutch in your garden as the best late season cabbage variety.
Late Flat Dutch produces massive heads of 10-15 pounds with pale green leaves.
As you might have guessed, due to its size, it takes longer to mature. He needs at least 100 days in the garden to harvest. Because of its size, you need to plant them two feet apart.
One of the great things about this cabbage variety is that it can be grown in zones 1-10. If you are in cold regions such as zones 1-3, you will need a seasonal extension cord to achieve 100 days of growth.
11. Mammoth Red Rock
Some gardeners forget to include red cabbage in their choices or completely ignore it as an ornamental, but that would be wrong.
Red cabbage has found its way into many recipes, and Mammoth Red Rock dates back to 1889. This is a great story!
As the name suggests, this variety produces large heads with a diameter of 8-10 inches and weighing up to 8 pounds. That’s a lot of cabbage!
Mammoth Red Rock grows well in zones 1-10. Make sure you plant this variety in full sunlight, placing them 24 inches apart. You can start harvesting these heads in 90-100 days.
12. Savory perfection
Looking for recipes for unsweetened cabbage? Then Savory Perfection is a great choice and grows well in USDA zones 3-12.
This type of cabbage produces heads that are 4-6 inches in diameter and can be ready to harvest about 90 days after transplanting into the garden.
Be sure to plant Savory Perfection in bright sunlight, at least 18 inches apart. This will promote optimal growth.
Chinese (napa) cabbage – ripening in 50-70 days
13. Rubicon
If you want napa cabbage, try Rubicon! The variety develops in 52-55 days, yields high yields of cabbage leaves.
The heads are 8-12 inches high, weighing 5-6 pounds. It produces kale with dark green leaves and white ribs, ideal for napa.
Because it grows so quickly, you can plant it in both spring and fall. It resists twisting under the influence of heat and disease.
Rubicon is a well-known choice in farmers’ markets. It not only tastes great, but is also versatile in use. You can use it for stir-fry, steamed, salad or salads. Also keeps well.
14. Bilko
Here’s another napa variation that can be harvested in 54-60 days. It is slightly larger than the Rubicon, usually 12 inches in size, and is known for its resistance to several diseases such as feces, black spot and yellow fusarium.
Bilko has a barrel-shaped head of mild sweet taste with pale green leaves. It is best if you grow it from summer to fall.
Growing cabbage in your garden
Cabbage may seem like a daunting task to gardeners, but many consider it to be one of the easiest vegetables to grow. If you provide the right conditions for growing vegetables, you can count on a bountiful harvest.
Here are some tips for you.
- Plant the seeds inside: most heads need to start within 4-6 weeks before you plan to plant them outdoors. Cabbage can be planted until the last frost. Depending on your location, you can plant them in your garden 2-4 weeks before the last frost. If you have a means to extend the season, such as floating canopy, you can plant a month before that date, which will give you an even longer growing season.
- Enrich the soil: Cabbage, especially late maturing varieties, tend to be a heavy feeder, so you should plan for adding compost to the soil before planting. Compost not only adds nutrients to the soil, but it also helps the dirt retain moisture, which is needed.
- Moisture Required: you will need to water the plants frequently. Cold season crops like cabbage do need moist soil, but don’t confuse wet soil with moist soil. Standing water should never be used, but if you notice the first two inches of the dirt are dry, you need to water.
- Sunlight Needed: look at the variety you plan to grow to determine the exact amount of sunlight needed. Most cabbages require full sunlight, which is defined as 6-8 hours of direct sunlight in total. Other varieties can survive in partial shade, which is 4-6 hours of sunshine. Read the seed packet!
- Space on the right: still Once, looking at a bag of seeds, you should be able to tell how far to plant different varieties of cabbage. How far you need to place them depends on their final size. Larger types need more room to grow. Typically, the distance between them is 18-24 inches.
Last thoughts
Choosing the right cabbage varieties for your garden can be a difficult choice.
Pay attention to the length of the growing season and be sure to choose those that have enough time to ripen.
Think about how you want to use kale and choose the ones that work best for your plans.
