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How easy is it to grow Red Cabbage?

Are there winter, spring and summer varieties like other cabbages?

If you've grown them...what variety would you recommend?


Thank you

Lauren  :)

Hiya, Lauren, we currently grow red cap and kalibos, hard to pick a favourite, ours are summer cabbages, kalibos is lovely, either in salad or steamed, really crunchy, pointed head, red cap is a normal, slightly smaller round head, great cooked and we pickled some last year, still using it now  :)
oh, forgot, we find them as easy to grow as green ones, mind you, slugs like them  ;D

Grew them last year for the 1st time. Well impressed think they were called Red jewel like Manics says just like the green ones. I just used mine for pickling and for that reason you don't need as many. Can you eat it like you would greens? Would you like some seed?

I tried red cabbage for the first time last year and have been very pleased with Marshall's Ruby Perfection seeds. They are small and neat and solid, and are standing the winter surprisingly well. I don't want gigantic heads that take ages to use up. I casserole them with apples and onions, a little syrup and some vinegar; or I add them to a coleslaw; or I just cook as green cabbage.

Anna Pavord in The Independent:
"I've never gone in for cabbages in a big way, but for their looks as well as their taste, I like red cabbages such as 'Red Flare', which is usually ready to cut from October onwards. Marshalls can supply plants (£4.45 for 16) which they send out from mid-May. If you are gardening in a small space, try 'Ruby Perfection' (Marshalls £1.95), which makes neat, solid heads with few outer leaves. Consequently, you can set the plants closer together than usual. Both will stand a long time in the ground without deteriorating."

I'm growing red cabbage for the first time this year. Mr Fothergills Rodeo F1. Summer cabbage I assume going by the sowing and harvest times.

I grew Kalibos last year too, which are summer cabbages - really easy to grow and good, firm pointed heads. Tasty raw (salads and coleslaw) or lightly steamed.

There are only two types, summer... like Kalibos and Winter for storage (most of the ball heads). Kalibos is great but doesn't store very well. The Drumheads will keep in a frost free shed all winter, both can be pickled. Red cabbage is great braised with apple and spices...  ;D

I grew some Kalibos for the first time last year in one of my raised beds....harvested most small, very nice, but Saddad watched in amusement as I let one grow and grow.......it ended up HUGE, but the slugs had been quietly nibbling at the centre and I ended up with hardly anything edible.....lesson learnt! :-[

I find they are less susceptible to slugs and caterpillars... ???
Or perhaps I notice the green caterpillars sooner on a red background...  :-X

Rodima F1 is a good variety also agree with saddad about the drumhead