Cabbage 'Red Express'
Brassica oleracea var. capitata 'Red Express'
A compact, early-maturing hybrid that produces perfectly round, deep red-purple heads in just 76 days. This space-saving variety is ideal for small gardens and containers while delivering the crisp texture and peppery-sweet flavor that makes red cabbage a kitchen favorite. The uniform heads resist splitting and store exceptionally well.
Harvest
76-80d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun to partial shade
Zones
6–9
USDA hardiness
Height
10-24 inches
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Cabbage 'Red Express' in USDA Zone 7
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Cabbage 'Red Express' · Zones 6–9
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | March – April | May – June | May – June | July – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | May – June | April – June | July – October |
| Zone 5 | February – March | April – May | April – May | July – November |
| Zone 6 | February – March | April – May | April – May | June – November |
| Zone 7 | February – March | April – May | March – May | June – November |
| Zone 8 | January – February | March – April | March – April | May – December |
| Zone 9 | January – January | February – March | February – March | April – December |
| Zone 10 | January – January | February – March | January – March | April – December |
Complete Growing Guide
Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours). Soil: Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Height: 0 ft. 10 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 12 inches-3 feet. Growth rate: Medium. Maintenance: Medium. Propagation: Seed, Stem Cutting. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
The fruits dry and split when ripe.
Color: Brown/Copper, Green. Type: Siliqua. Length: > 3 inches.
Garden value: Edible
Harvest time: Fall, Summer
Bloom time: Spring, Summer
Edibility: The foliage is edible raw or cooked but when cooked can emit an unpleasant odor.
Storage & Preservation
Fresh Red Express heads keep exceptionally well when stored properly. Remove damaged outer leaves and store unwashed heads in the refrigerator crisper drawer at 32-40°F with high humidity. Properly stored heads maintain quality for 3-4 months—significantly longer than most cabbage varieties.
For longer preservation, Red Express excels at fermentation due to its dense texture and balanced sugar content. Shred for traditional sauerkraut or quick-pickle in vinegar brine for refrigerator storage up to 6 months. The variety's natural purple pigments create stunning ferments.
Blanch and freeze shredded cabbage for cooked applications, though texture becomes softer. Red Express also dehydrates well—slice thinly and dry for soup mixes or grind into purple cabbage powder for natural food coloring. Avoid water-bath canning as the texture becomes mushy, but pressure canning works for soups and stews.
History & Origin
Red Express represents modern hybrid breeding focused on solving common problems faced by home gardeners. Developed in the late 20th century through selective breeding programs, this variety emerged from efforts to create an early-maturing red cabbage suitable for short growing seasons and small spaces.
Traditional red cabbage varieties required 100+ days to mature and produced large heads better suited to commercial farming than home gardens. Plant breeders recognized the need for a compact, quick-maturing red variety that retained the superior storage qualities and distinctive flavor that make red cabbage valuable.
The 'Express' series, which includes both red and green varieties, was specifically bred for uniform maturity and splitting resistance—addressing two major frustrations for home gardeners. By incorporating genes for early maturity with those for dense head formation, breeders created a variety that delivers full-sized flavor in a space-efficient package.
This hybrid represents the practical evolution of cabbage breeding, prioritizing home gardener success over maximum size or commercial harvesting convenience.
Advantages
- +Attracts: The foliage is edible raw or cooked but when cooked can emit an unpleasant odor.
- +Wildlife value: It serves as a host plant for butterflies, moths, flies, sawflies and beetles.
- +Edible: The foliage is edible raw or cooked but when cooked can emit an unpleasant odor.
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Nasturtium
Acts as trap crop for aphids and flea beetles, draws pests away from cabbage
Marigold
Repels cabbage worms, aphids, and other harmful insects with strong scent
Dill
Attracts beneficial insects like parasitic wasps that control cabbage worms
Onion
Repels cabbage maggots, aphids, and flea beetles with sulfur compounds
Celery
Repels cabbage white butterflies and provides ground cover to retain moisture
Lettuce
Grows well in cabbage's shade and doesn't compete for nutrients
Thyme
Repels cabbage worms and flea beetles while attracting beneficial insects
Garlic
Deters cabbage loopers, aphids, and cabbage root maggots with strong aroma
Keep Apart
Tomato
Competes for nutrients and may stunt cabbage growth due to allelopathic effects
Strawberry
Both plants attract similar pests and compete for soil nutrients
Pole Bean
Can shade cabbage excessively and compete for nitrogen in soil
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #169975)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good resistance to fusarium yellows and black rot
Common Pests
Cabbage worms, cutworms, aphids, flea beetles
Diseases
Clubroot, black leg, downy mildew, white rust