This striking brassica vegetable forms tight, round solid heads made up of rich deep reddish‑purple layered leaves. Its crisp texture and mild earthy flavour make it highly versatile for raw salads, pickling, stir‑frying and stews. Rich in beneficial plant pigments, it brings vivid colour to home‑cooked meals. It needs a relatively long growing cycle and prefers steady cool weather to develop firm, well‑closed heads without splitting.
These vegetable seeds thrive under cool‑climate conditions. Excessive heat slows head formation and may trigger premature bolting. Deep fertile soil with good moisture retention encourages full‑sized compact heads. Avoid dramatic shifts between drought and heavy watering, which can cause mature cabbage heads to split. Proper spacing between plants gives each head enough room to expand fully. Planting Instructions Soil Preparation Pick fully sunny growing spots. Prepare deep fertile loam mixed with well‑rotted organic compost. Break soil clumps to create fine seedbed, ensure effective drainage. Neutral to slightly alkaline soil pH works best for brassica growth.
Seed Pre‑treatment No cold stratification required. Brief warm‑water soaking can boost germination consistency.
Sowing Method Sow in early spring or late summer. Sow seeds in shallow depth, cover with thin soil layer. Seedling‑tray sowing followed by transplanting is widely adopted. After transplanting, maintain 40‑50 cm spacing between each plant. Direct sowing in open ground is also workable.
Germination Condition Optimal germination temperature:15‑22°C. Seedlings emerge within 7‑14 days. Keep soil evenly moist during germination period.
Daily Maintenance Needs full‑day sunlight. Water evenly, keep soil consistently moist, prevent long‑term drought. Apply balanced fertilizer at rosette‑leaf stage and head‑forming stage. Remove surrounding weeds in time. Watch for cabbage worms, aphids and flea beetles. Harvest whole compact heads when they reach full maturity.
Specification Plant Name: Brassica oleracea Botanical Name: Brassica oleracea var. capitata f. rubra Plant Type: Cool‑season annual brassica vegetable Bloom Feature: Tight round compact head composed of thick layered reddish‑purple crisp leaves Blooming & Fruiting Period: Spring‑autumn growing cycle, harvest ready roughly 85‑110 days after sowing Germination Temperature:15‑22°C Growing Temperature:10‑24°C; high temperature hinders head‑setting and induces bolting Light Requirement: Full sun Soil: Deep fertile moisture‑retentive well‑drained loam soil Planting Difficulty: Moderate
Core Features: Brassica oleracea seeds, red cabbage seeds, purple‑headed brassica vegetable, fit for home vegetable gardens, raised‑beds, salad making and pickling processing
FAQ Q1: Why will red cabbage heads split? A1: Uneven moisture, alternating drought and heavy watering is the main trigger; keep stable watering rhythm. Q2: Can red cabbage be grown in containers? A2: Large deep pots are required; small containers cannot support full‑size head development. Q3: When is the best time for sowing? A3: Sow in early spring or late summer; avoid hot summer periods. Q4: What common pests attack red cabbage? A4: Cabbage worms, aphids and flea beetles are frequent pests; inspect leaves regularly. Q5: Why plants fail to form solid heads? A5: Insufficient sunlight, poor soil fertility or too high temperature will affect head‑forming performance.
