The Days to Maturity or Germination for Cabbage

Firm, crisp, full heads of cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) look great in a garden, with wide, rather ornamental leaves framing the cabbage head. Different cabbage varieties have round, flat or conical heads and leaves that range from blue-green through green and yellow-green to red or purple. Savoy cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. sabuada) has deep green, wrinkled, prominently veined leaves. Most cabbage seeds germinate in seven to 10 days. The time to maturity depends on the cabbage variety.

Early cabbage varieties are ready for harvest seven to eight weeks after they are transplanted out in the garden. "Early Jersey Wakefield" is a conical-headed green-leaved early variety. Heads weigh in at 2 to 4 pounds and have a sweet, smooth flavor. "Gonzales" is a small-headed blue-green cabbage harvested in about 60 days when the head is softball-sized. One- to 3-pound heads are suitable for gardens with limited space. Some other early varieties are "Mammoth Red Rock," "All Seasons," "Heads Up," "Pacifica" and "Tastie."

Taking two to three months to mature, midseason cabbages include traditional as well as savoy varieties. Savoy cabbage is best eaten straight from the garden rather than stored. Ready in 85 days, "Savoy King" has uniform heads with dark green leaves. Other midseason savoys are "Chieftain Savoy" and "Savoy Ace." Traditional cabbages include "Market Prize," "Ruby Perfection" and "Lennox." "Red Acre" matures in 76 days and forms a round, reddish-purple 3-pound head.

Late varieties take three to four months to as long as 180 days to mature and store well, either in the garden or in a cool storage area after harvest. "Mammoth Red Rock" or "Red Danish," is an heirloom cabbage cultivated since 1889, producing 4- to 7-pound, dark-red heads in 90 days. "Premium Late Flat Dutch" matures in 100 days, with 10- to 15-pound heads and good flavor. Other late varieties include "Huron," "Red Drumhead" and "Wisconsin Hollander."

Part of the mustard family (Brassicaceae), cabbage is a cool-season biennial plant grown as an annual. It does best in the temperature range between 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit, although it will grow at 45 degrees F. Seeds germinate in about two weeks if planted in soil with temperatures as low as 50 degrees F. Some cabbage cultivars bolt, or begin to produce flower stalks, in temperatures above 80 degrees F. This splits the heads open. Plant spring cabbage about four weeks before the last frost, and choose cultivars with different maturity dates for an extended harvest. Protect tender seedlings from frosts. For fall planting, put transplants out six to eight weeks before the first frost.