VegetableCabbage
Green Express Cabbage
Green Express Cabbage is a bright green mini cabbage that reaches harvest in just 50 days, making it one of the fastest maturing varieties you can grow. This heirloom annual thrives across hardiness zones 3 to 11 and produces compact 5- to 7-inch diameter heads with excellent uniformity and a mild, crisp flavor. Whether you're gardening in a container, direct sowing in fall, or transplanting in spring, this variety delivers dependable results in remarkably short time.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
3-11
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam With Consistent Moisture
Growth Stats
12 in
Height
TypeSpreading
Spacing
18
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
3-11
Size
12in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
At 50 days to maturity, Green Express Cabbage races from seed to harvest faster than most gardeners expect a cabbage to mature. The heads are notably uniform in size and shape, each one displaying that characteristic bright green color with a tender, mild flavor and satisfying crispness that makes them excellent fresh eating. Its compact stature and ability to thrive in containers means even gardeners with limited space can produce genuine homegrown cabbage.
Common Uses
Green Express Cabbage shines in fresh applications where its mild flavor and tender texture are most appreciated. The compact 5- to 7-inch heads are ideal for slaws, salads, and quick stir-fries, while their small size suits single servings or small households perfectly. Many gardeners use this variety for fall and spring succession planting, harvesting entire heads as needed rather than managing the storage demands of larger cabbage varieties.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before your last spring frost. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in moist seed-starting mix at 70 degrees Fahrenheit or slightly cooler for germination. Keep the seedbed consistently moist until emergence, which typically occurs within 5 to 10 days.
Transplant Outdoors
Transplant seedlings outdoors after hardening off for 7 to 10 days, once soil temperatures reach 50 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer. Plant at 18 inches apart with 36 inches between rows. Bury seedlings at the same depth they were growing in their containers, firming soil gently around the base.
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in your garden in early spring for a summer harvest or in mid to late summer for a fall crop. Sow seeds directly where they will grow, then thin seedlings to 18 inches apart once they develop their first true leaves. This method works particularly well for fall gardens.
Harvesting
Harvest Green Express Cabbage when heads reach 5 to 7 inches in diameter, typically at the 50-day mark from sowing. Cut the entire head cleanly at the base with a sharp knife when the head feels firm and compact, indicating the leaves are properly tightened. For succession harvesting, stagger sowings 2 to 3 weeks apart to ensure a continuous supply throughout the season.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Brassica oleracea
Family
Brassicaceae
Genus
Brassica
Growth Habit
Spreading
Native Status
L48 (I)PR (I)CAN (W)GL (W)
History & Origin
“Green Express Cabbage is a modern heirloom developed to bring the speed and convenience of quick-maturing vegetables to cabbage growers. It represents a breeding effort to create a mini cabbage that breaks free from the long, 70 to 90-day growing cycles traditional varieties require, allowing gardeners in short-season regions and those seeking faster harvests to grow cabbage where it might otherwise be impractical.”