VegetablesCabbage
Brassica oleracea var. capitata
Difficulty: Moderate
Cabbage is a cool-season vegetable grown for its dense head of leaves. It is best sown in early spring or fall, in full sun.
How to grow cabbage
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Comparing Cabbage vs. Red Cabbage
The comparison
Cabbage vs. Red Cabbage
| Fact | | |
|---|---|---|
| Difficulty | Moderate | Moderate |
| Life cycle | Biennial | Biennial |
| Sowing depth | 6 mm–1.5 cm¼–½ in | 6 mm–1.5 cm¼–½ in |
| Spacing between plants | Not yet verified | 38–46 cm15–18 in |
| Days to maturity | Not yet verified | 60–90 days from transplanting |
| Sun | Full sun | Full sun, partial shade |
| Water | Moderate | Moderate |
| Frost tolerance | Hardy | Hardy |
| Soil pH | Not yet verified | pH 5.8–6.5 |
| Links |
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- Vegetables
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Red Cabbage
Brassica oleracea var. capitata f. rubra
Difficulty: ModerateRed cabbage is a cool-season cabbage with reddish leaves, grown from seed in full sun and usually harvested about 60 to 90 days after transplanting.
How to grow red cabbage
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Sprouting
Germination time and temperature
How many days the seeds take to sprout, and the temperature range they sprout in.
Sowing
Sowing depth and spacing
How deep to sow each seed and how far apart the plants should grow. “On the surface” means the seed isn't covered.
Timing
Days to maturity and life cycle
How long until the plant is ready, counted from sowing or from transplanting (each value says which). Annuals live one year, biennials two, perennials longer.
Light and water
Sun and water
Full sun means 6 or more hours of direct sun a day, partial shade a few hours. Water needs are rated low, moderate or high.
Space and weather
Containers, frost tolerance and soil pH
Whether it grows in a pot, with the smallest pot when it's known. Frost tolerance runs from tender (no frost) to hardy. Soil pH 7 is neutral.
Pets
Toxicity to cats and dogs
Whether the plant is toxic to cats and dogs.
Quick wins
Fastest to sprout
Days from sowing until the first shoots appear, in good conditions.
Pet friendly
Safe around cats and dogs
Listed as non-toxic to both cats and dogs. Each seed's page has the details.
Not safe for pets: borage, buckwheat, caraway, carnation and 14 more.
Comparing
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