Red Cabbage Seeds — Brassica oleracea

A Garden Classic with Stunning Colour

Red Cabbage (Brassica oleracea) is a beautiful and nutritious brassica that produces dense, firm heads in a rich deep purple-red — as striking in the garden as it is on the plate. With a slightly peppery, earthy flavour, red cabbage is wonderfully versatile: shred it raw into slaws and salads, braise it slowly with apple and spices, pickle it for a vibrant condiment, or ferment it into sauerkraut. A rewarding and productive crop for NZ gardeners.

Why Gardeners Love It

• 💜 Stunning deep purple-red heads — beautiful in the garden and on the plate
• 🥗 Incredibly versatile — raw, braised, pickled, or fermented
• 🌟 Packed with nutrition — rich in vitamin C, antioxidants, and fibre
• ❄️ Frost hardy — flavour actually improves after a light frost
• 📅 Long storage life — heads keep well in the fridge for weeks

Growing Tips for New Zealand

Red cabbage is a cool-season crop that thrives in autumn and spring in New Zealand. Sow seeds indoors or in trays from February–April (for autumn harvest) or July–September (for spring/summer harvest). Transplant seedlings 45–60 cm apart in rich, firm, well-drained soil in a sunny position. Water consistently and feed with a nitrogen-rich fertiliser to encourage strong leafy growth. Heads are ready to harvest when firm and dense — typically 80–100 days from transplanting.

💡 Grower's tip: Cover with fine netting to protect from white butterfly — essential for brassicas in the NZ garden. A light frost before harvest will sweeten the flavour beautifully.

What's in the Packet

Each packet contains 10 seeds of Red Cabbage (Brassica oleracea), with sowing and growing instructions included.