Ruby Perfection Cabbage
Brassica oleracea var. capitata
The #1 mid-late red cabbage. The heads are medium-size and dense with a uniform high-round shape and good wrapper leaves. Good field-holding ability. Matures just in time for late summer crops or fall harvest for medium-term storage. Avg. weight: 3 1/2 lb. Resistant to thrips. Unsized seed.
Harvest
85d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun to partial shade
Zones
6–9
USDA hardiness
Height
10-24 inches
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Ruby Perfection Cabbage in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 brassica →Zone Map
Click a state to update dates
Ruby Perfection Cabbage · 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
Store freshly harvested Ruby Perfection in your refrigerator's crisper drawer wrapped loosely in perforated plastic bags. Maintain humidity around 90-95% and temperature just above 32°F for optimal storage – properly stored heads last 3-4 months. Don't wash before storing, and remove any damaged outer leaves that could promote decay.
For long-term preservation, Ruby Perfection excels at fermentation due to its firm texture and sweet flavor profile. Shred for traditional sauerkraut or kimchi, where the purple color creates stunning presentations. The variety also freezes well when blanched for 90 seconds and cooled quickly – frozen cabbage works perfectly for cooked applications like braised dishes or soups. Quick pickling brings out Ruby Perfection's natural sweetness while maintaining its vibrant color, creating an excellent condiment that keeps refrigerated for 2-3 months.
History & Origin
Ruby Perfection represents the culmination of decades of red cabbage breeding focused on combining superior flavor with exceptional field performance. Developed in the late 1990s by American seed companies responding to market demand for red cabbages that could match the sweetness and tenderness of green varieties while maintaining the stunning visual appeal that makes red cabbage special.
Traditional red cabbages were often tough, strongly flavored, and prone to splitting – characteristics that limited their appeal beyond pickling and long-cooking applications. Ruby Perfection was specifically bred to address these limitations, incorporating genetics from European storage varieties known for their keeping quality and Asian varieties prized for their tender texture.
The 'Perfection' name reflects the variety's balanced characteristics: it holds well in the field without splitting (a major breakthrough for red cabbages), develops consistent round heads, and maintains its deep color even in variable weather conditions. This F1 hybrid quickly gained popularity among both commercial growers and home gardeners who wanted a red cabbage that performed as reliably as premium green varieties while delivering the unique flavor and visual impact that only red cabbage provides.
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
Dill
Attracts beneficial wasps that parasitize cabbage worms and aphids
Onions
Repel cabbage maggots, aphids, and flea beetles with their sulfur compounds
Marigolds
Deter cabbage worms and other pests while attracting beneficial predatory insects
Nasturtiums
Act as trap crop for aphids and flea beetles, drawing them away from cabbage
Celery
Repels cabbage worms and white cabbage butterfly through natural compounds
Carrots
Help break up soil and don't compete for nutrients, good space utilization
Lettuce
Provides ground cover to retain moisture and suppress weeds around cabbage
Thyme
Repels cabbage worms and flea beetles with aromatic compounds
Keep Apart
Tomatoes
Compete for similar nutrients and may stunt cabbage growth through root competition
Strawberries
Both are heavy feeders that compete for nutrients, particularly nitrogen
Pole Beans
Can shade cabbage and compete for nutrients, reducing head formation
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 splitting and tipburn
Common Pests
Cabbage worms, aphids, flea beetles, diamondback moths
Diseases
Black rot, clubroot, downy mildew, bacterial soft rot