Cabbage, Red Express

Red Express is an early-maturing red cabbage (63 days) with compact, dark purple heads perfect for small gardens. The sweet, crunchy heads are great for coleslaw or sauerkraut, and this variety is more heat-tolerant than many cabbages.

Cabbage: Cabbage, the cool-season champion and reliable storage heavyweight that belongs in every garden! These dense, versatile heads are perfect for slaw, kimchi, sauerkraut, stuffing, or simply braising, providing vitamin-rich harvests for months. Choose from early varieties yielding compact 2-3 pound heads (60-70 days) or massive storage types that develop 8-10 pound monsters, keeping fresh in a cool environment well past harvest. With varieties including crinkled Savoy, traditional Green, and antioxidant-rich Red, you're guaranteed consistent and rewarding production from a single planting.

• Growing Tips: Transplant 4 weeks before the last frost for a spring crop or midsummer for a fall harvest, spacing 12-18 inches apart. Use row covers or collars to protect young plants from cutworms and cabbage worms.

• Sun Requirements: Full sun (minimum 6 hours) is essential for solid head formation and overall plant health.

• Preferred Soil: Rich, well-drained, firm, and moisture-retentive soil (pH 6.0-7.5). As heavy feeders, consistent fertility and high nitrogen/calcium are required.

• Harvest Details: Cut heads when they feel solid and firm, typically 60-105 days from transplanting depending on the variety. Cut at the base, leaving the outer leaves, which may produce small secondary heads.