Brassica oleracea (Capitata Group)

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Brassica oleracea (Capitata Group)

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Kemper Code: A671

Common Name: red cabbage
Zone: (annual)
Plant Type: Annual
Family: Brassicaceae
Missouri Native: No
Native Range: Western Europe
Height: 1 to 2 feet
Spread: 1 to 2 feet
Bloom Time: -
Bloom Color:
Sun: Full sun
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Low

Plant Culture and Characteristics

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Uses:		Wildlife:	Flowers:	Leaves:	Fruit:
Hedge	Suitable as annual	Attracts birds	Has showy flowers	Leaves colorful	Has showy fruit
Shade tree	Culinary herb	Attracts	Has fragrant flowers	Leaves fragrant	Fruit edible
Street tree	Vegetable	hummingbirds	Flowers not showy	Good fall color	Other:
Flowering tree	Water garden plant	Attracts	Good cut flower	Evergreen	Winter interest
Gr. cover (<1')	Will naturalize	butterflies	Good dried flower		Thorns or spines

General Culture: Click for monthly care information.

Sow seeds in flats in May and June, transplant into well-drained garden spot in July and August when 4 to 6" high planting 18" apart. Tolerates poor soil. Keep bed cultivated. Frost and snow hardy. Can also be seeded under glass in January and February for harvesting like spinach when 6" high. Roots will resprout.

Noteworthy Characteristics:

One of the best sources of winter and spring greens. Harvest small young leaves starting in November. Strip ground to stimulate new side shoots for February through May. Harvest entire shoot when 4 to 5" long. Frost improves flavor. Eat fresh or chopped for stews and soups. Some older varieties such as 'Ragged Jack’ are perennial.

Problems: Click for detailed list of pests and problems.

Least troubled of Brassicas; however, use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) or remove cabbage worms by hand to keep leaves intact.

Uses:

Ornamental kales come in white, pink, purple, green, red, and blue. Ornamentals are edible but considerably less tasty than those selected for culinary use.