CABBAGE - RED EXPRESS

   Organic Cabbage Red Express

        100 Seeds Pack   

Red Express’ cabbage truly lives up to its name, delivering impressive results in a remarkably short time. At just 63 days to maturity, this variety is one of the fastest-growing cabbages available, making it an excellent choice for gardeners who want a quick and reliable harvest. The compact, tightly formed heads are a striking reddish-purple and weigh between 1 ½ to 2 pounds. These small but dense heads are rock-hard, offering a satisfying heft despite their size, making them perfect for smaller gardens or those with limited growing space.

Botanically known as Brassica oleracea var. capitata f. rubra, this cabbage has a name almost as impressive as its performance. It was developed and refined by Nash Huber, a skilled farmer and breeder, specifically for northern climates, where short growing seasons can pose challenges. Huber’s work ensures that ‘Red Express’ thrives even in cooler temperatures, making it a dependable option for growers in temperate or unpredictable climates.

One of the standout qualities of ‘Red Express’ is its status as an open-pollinated variety, offering a wonderful alternative to hybrid cabbages. Open-pollinated plants allow gardeners to save seeds for future planting, which is both economical and sustainable. This trait, combined with its quick-maturing nature, makes ‘Red Express’ an appealing choice for those who value self-sufficiency in the garden.

PLANTING & GROWING

Soaking needs to be done at least a few hours before planting, and preferably overnight. To prevent damping off when starting seeds indoors, it’s essential that you disinfect all of your plastic grow trays, seed cells, and seedling tray covers before you reuse them. 

Choose an area in your garden that gets at least 6 hours of sunlight. 

Cabbage requires a soil temperature of 45 degrees F and rich in organic matter that is well-drained.  Sow seeds 1.25cm (½in) deep and space 15 to 20cm (6 to 8in) between rows.

Once the seeds have germinated, thin the seedlings to 7.5cm (3in) between each plant. After germination, seedlings will often be ‘leggy’, so plant them as deep as possible to really anchor them into the soil when they are between 6 and 8cm high (2½ to 3in). 

Water plants well before you begin and better to transplant on a dull day or in the evening to prevent the plants wilting in hot, dry weather. Cabbage requires regular, even watering. Uneven watering can result in stunted or cracked heads. Give cabbage 2.54cm (1½in) inches of water every week; 1 inch equal 16 gallons (60.5 L).

Because other brassicas need the same kinds of nutrients as cabbage, they can be planted near your cabbage crop. Brussels sprouts, kale, swiss chard, broccoli, and cauliflower are all suitable companions. Not only are members of the cabbage family easy to grow, but they also enjoy the same climate and conditions that cabbage does.  An overabundant amount of brassicas can out-compete each other.  Brassicas need sun, but cabbage enjoys shade in the hard afternoon sun. One of the best ways to provide some shade and  Nitrogen-fixing plants like beans and peas will feed cabbage.

Carrots, beets, onions, and parsnips make good cabbage companion plants too.  Growing onions, garlic, and herbs beside your cabbage will keep it pest-free and the leaves from beets provide magnesium to the soil when they break down.  One herb, in particular – rosemary, sage and dill– not only repels cabbage moths, it improves the flavour of each head of cabbage nearby. This is because rosemary provides potassium, calcium, and sulphur to the soil, which gives the cabbage a little help in the flavour and nutrition departments. 

Tomatoes, Lettuce and Strawberry are one of the most unsuitable cabbage companion plants. They are carriers of fungal infections and can infect your cabbage with diseases. Cabbage, on the other hand, can deplete the nutrients that your tomatoes need to thrive.  Cabbage crops contain plant chemicals that inhibit tomato growth, as well as other nightshades like eggplants and peppers.

Cabbage is a cross-pollinated crop because of sporophytic self-incompatibility, and honey bees play an important role in its pollination.  Biennial vegetables include: beets, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, celery, chard, collards, Florence fennel, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, onions, parsley, parsnips, winter radishes, rutabaga, and turnips. About 80% of plants require pollination from insects or birds.