How to Grow Spring Cabbage: Tips, Facts, and Information
Spring cabbage is a fantastic crop to grow for an early harvest of fresh, tender leaves after the winter. These varieties are sown in late summer or early fall, overwintered, and then harvested in spring, making them an essential part of a year-round vegetable garden. With their crisp texture and mild, sweet flavor, spring cabbages are perfect for salads, slaws, and stir-fries. This guide covers the top 20 varieties of spring cabbage, along with essential growing tips, fascinating facts, and answers to common questions.
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Top 20 Spring Cabbage Varieties to Grow
1. April
- Tips: April cabbage grows best when sown in late summer and overwintered for an early spring harvest. It thrives in well-drained soil and full sun.
- Facts: This variety produces medium-sized, compact heads with a sweet, mild flavor and is one of the most reliable spring cabbages.
2. Durham Early
- Tips: Durham Early is perfect for planting in late summer for overwintering. It prefers rich soil and plenty of sunlight.
- Facts: Known for its early maturity, Durham Early produces tender, pointed heads with a mild flavor, making it a favorite for fresh salads.
3. Hispi
- Tips: Hispi cabbage grows quickly and is best planted in late summer for a spring harvest. It prefers well-drained soil and full sun.
- Facts: This variety is a popular choice for its small, compact, and conical heads with a sweet flavor. Hispi is often referred to as a sweetheart cabbage.
4. Spring Hero
- Tips: Spring Hero cabbage can be sown in late summer or early fall and overwintered for an early spring harvest. It needs full sun and well-drained soil.
- Facts: This hybrid variety is known for its large, firm heads and excellent cold tolerance, making it ideal for early harvests.
5. Flower of Spring
- Tips: Flower of Spring thrives in cooler temperatures and prefers rich, fertile soil. Sow seeds in late summer for an early spring harvest.
- Facts: This heirloom variety produces small, tender heads with a sweet, mild flavor and is known for its early maturation.
6. Wheelers Imperial
- Tips: Sow Wheelers Imperial in late summer and overwinter it for an early spring harvest. It prefers full sun and fertile soil.
- Facts: A reliable old variety, Wheelers Imperial produces medium-sized, round heads with a mild, sweet flavor and is highly frost-tolerant.
7. Golden Acre
- Tips: Golden Acre is best sown in late summer or early fall. It grows well in rich, well-drained soil and full sun.
- Facts: This compact variety produces small, round heads with a crisp texture and mild, sweet flavor, making it perfect for early salads.
8. Pixie
- Tips: Plant Pixie cabbage in late summer for overwintering. It prefers full sun and well-drained soil with regular watering.
- Facts: Known for its small, tight heads, Pixie is a fast-maturing variety with a sweet, delicate flavor.
9. Jersey Wakefield
- Tips: Jersey Wakefield grows best when planted in late summer and overwintered. It thrives in full sun and rich soil.
- Facts: This heirloom variety produces pointed heads with a tender texture and sweet flavor. It’s prized for its early harvest and cold tolerance.
10. Greyhound
- Tips: Greyhound is ideal for planting in late summer for a spring harvest. It prefers rich, well-drained soil and full sun.
- Facts: This fast-growing variety has pointed heads with tender, crisp leaves and a mild flavor, making it perfect for fresh eating.
11. Caraflex
- Tips: Sow Caraflex in late summer for overwintering and spring harvest. It grows best in well-drained soil and full sun.
- Facts: Known for its cone-shaped heads, Caraflex is a sweet, tender cabbage that is ideal for small spaces.
12. Spring Greens
- Tips: Spring Greens can be sown in late summer or early fall. It grows well in cool temperatures and prefers full sun and well-drained soil.
- Facts: This variety is known for its loose, non-heading leaves, which are harvested as tender, leafy greens early in the season.
13. Offenham 2 Flower of Spring
- Tips: Sow this variety in late summer for an early spring harvest. It grows best in rich, well-drained soil and full sun.
- Facts: Offenham 2 Flower of Spring produces pointed heads with a sweet, mild flavor and is highly resistant to frost.
14. Precoce de Louviers
- Tips: Plant Precoce de Louviers in late summer or early fall for overwintering. It prefers full sun and fertile, well-drained soil.
- Facts: This French heirloom variety produces tender, pointed heads with a rich flavor, perfect for early spring salads.
15. Cabbice
- Tips: Cabbice grows best when sown in late summer for overwintering and spring harvest. It thrives in full sun and rich soil.
- Facts: Known for its exceptionally sweet flavor and crisp texture, Cabbice is often compared to iceberg lettuce for its mild taste.
16. Advantage
- Tips: Plant Advantage cabbage in late summer for a spring harvest. It prefers well-drained, fertile soil and full sun.
- Facts: This hybrid variety produces firm, round heads that are resistant to splitting and have a mild, sweet flavor.
17. Durham Champion
- Tips: Sow Durham Champion in late summer for overwintering. It grows best in rich soil with plenty of sunlight.
- Facts: This variety produces medium-sized heads with tender, mild-flavored leaves, making it a popular choice for early spring harvests.
18. Lionheart
- Tips: Plant Lionheart in late summer for a spring harvest. It prefers full sun and fertile, well-drained soil.
- Facts: Known for its conical heads and crisp texture, Lionheart cabbage is a fast-growing variety with a mild, sweet flavor.
19. Red Drumhead
- Tips: Red Drumhead grows best in full sun and well-drained soil. Plant in late summer or early fall for a colorful spring harvest.
- Facts: This heirloom variety produces beautiful, deep red heads with a sweet, mild flavor, perfect for adding color to salads.
20. Earliest of All
- Tips: Earliest of All cabbage is ideal for planting in late summer for overwintering. It prefers full sun and rich soil.
- Facts: True to its name, this variety produces compact heads that are ready for harvest early in the spring, with tender leaves and a mild flavor.
Common Questions About Growing Spring Cabbage
Q: When should I plant spring cabbage?
A: Spring cabbage is typically planted in late summer or early fall to allow the plants to establish before winter. The cabbages then overwinter and are ready for harvest in early spring.
Q: Can I grow spring cabbage in containers?
A: Yes, spring cabbage can be grown in containers as long as the pots are at least 12-16 inches deep and have good drainage. Make sure to place the containers in a sunny spot and water regularly.
Q: How long does spring cabbage take to grow?
A: Spring cabbage takes several months to grow. When planted in late summer or early fall, it will overwinter and be ready to harvest in early to mid-spring, typically about 6-8 months after planting.
Q: How do I protect my spring cabbage from frost?
A: Spring cabbage is frost-hardy and can withstand cold temperatures. However, to protect them from extreme frost or heavy snow, you can use row covers, cloches, or mulch around the plants for added insulation.
Q: How do I harvest spring cabbage?
A: Harvest spring cabbage when the heads are firm and well-formed. Use a sharp knife to cut the head off at the base, leaving the outer leaves intact. Some varieties will produce a second, smaller crop if the main head is cut but the roots are left in the ground.