Large Red Cabbage - Brassica oleracea capitata

Brassica oleracea capitata Large Red is a cabbage that forms large, tightly packed round heads composed of very dark red leaves. It can be harvested as early as the end of summer. Sow the seeds from February to June for a harvest from July to December.

The drumhead cabbage is a very popular leafy vegetable, with a delicious flavour and generous-sized heads.

This beautiful vegetable plant belongs to the large Brassicaceae family. Native to Europe, it is a biennial plant cultivated as an annual that produces a tightly packed head, which can be round, slightly flattened, or distinctly conical in pointed varieties. The leaves are smooth and their colour varies depending on the variety: from very light green, almost white to dark green, sometimes slightly bluish, to violet-tinted red or almost black.

Although emblematic of winter, the seeds can be sown and harvested almost all year round. The varieties are generally grouped into three main categories: spring cabbages, which are harvested from late April to June, summer and autumn cabbages for the period from July, and winter cabbages that are harvested in spring, along with leeks and parsnips.

It can be consumed both raw and cooked. Grate it in salads, braise it to accompany meat and fish dishes, stuff it, or even use it in soups and Sauerkraut. There is no shortage of recipes, both in traditional and modern cuisine.

From a dietary point of view, it is remarkable. Its energy value is low, but it is very rich in vitamins C, B6, and B9. It also contains a lot of fibre and minerals such as calcium.

It is easy to grow in deep soil. It needs excellent fertilisation, and regular moisture. It thrives in the sun and generally does well in cool and rainy climates.

Harvest: the cabbage is ready when it forms a nice head. Harvest before the leaves start to turn yellow. Simply cut with a knife, just below the head.

Storage: it can be kept for several days in the refrigerator. It can also be frozen after being blanched in salted boiling water. Winter varieties can also be left standing. Finally, the preparation of Sauerkraut (lacto-fermentation) means you can preserve white-headed autumn varieties.

Gardener's tip: don't forget the flowers! Flowers will help to repel pests and attract valuable pollinators. Include flowering plants such as gaillardias, marigolds, zinnias, cosmos, and nasturtiums with your vegetables. You can even include beautiful herbs like dill in the middle of the vegetable rows or on the edge of the bed. However, be wary of certain plants, like borage, which tend to self-seed abundantly in areas dedicated to cultivation.

NB: This variety is labelled F1 for "F1 hybrid" because it is a variety resulting from the cross-breeding of carefully selected parents to combine their qualities. This results in a variety that can be particularly tasty and/or early, while being resistant to certain diseases. Sometimes criticised or wrongly associated with GMOs, F1 hybrid seeds are valued for their uniformity and their resistance. Unfortunately, their qualities are not passed on to subsequent generations. It will therefore not be possible to save the seeds for later sowing.