Storage Cabbage
Premium Late Flat Dutch Cabbage is a heavyweight heirloom that delivers serious storage potential and reliable performance across hardiness zones 1 through 13. European settlers brought this variety to North America in the 1860s, and it remains the standard-bearer for late-season, large-headed cabbage. Expect massive heads weighing 10 to 25 pounds at maturity in about 100 days, packed with the dense, quality texture that makes storage varieties legendary among root-cellaring gardeners.
Full Sun
Moderate
1-13
?in H x ?in W
Perennial
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
The heads on this variety grow impressively large and uniformly flat, reaching 10 to 25 pounds while maintaining excellent quality for long-term storage. Introduced by European settlers over 150 years ago, it has proven itself across nearly every growing zone in North America. You'll harvest in 100 days, and the frost-hardy nature means you can push your growing season into cool fall weather without risk.
Premium Late Flat Dutch Cabbage excels as a storage vegetable, making it the choice for gardeners planning to preserve their harvest through winter months. The large, dense heads are ideal for fermenting into sauerkraut, a traditional preparation that capitalizes on the variety's substantial size and quality texture. Fresh use in slaws, braises, and long-cooking dishes also suits its sturdy structure and flavor profile.
Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost, maintaining temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Seeds will sprout in 7 to 10 days under these conditions. Sow seeds in seed-starting mix and keep consistently moist but not waterlogged. Thin seedlings or pot them up into individual containers once true leaves appear. Harden off transplants over 7 to 10 days before moving them to the garden.
Transplant hardened-off seedlings outdoors after the last frost date when soil has warmed to at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Dig planting holes deep enough to bury the stem slightly below the soil surface, which encourages stronger root development. Space plants 18 inches apart in rows, allowing adequate airflow to reduce disease pressure. Water thoroughly after transplanting and maintain consistent moisture as plants establish.
Direct sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in the garden, spacing seeds about 1 inch apart in rows. Thin seedlings to 18 inches apart once they develop true leaves. Direct sowing works well for late plantings targeting fall harvest, as the variety tolerates cooler temperatures.
Harvest Premium Late Flat Dutch Cabbage when heads feel firm and solid when gently squeezed, typically at around 100 days from transplanting. For storage varieties like this, wait until heads are fully mature and have developed their characteristic flat shape with good density. Cut the entire head cleanly at the base with a sharp knife, leaving a short stem attached. Harvest before the first hard freeze, though the variety's frost-hardy nature allows for harvesting after light frosts. Early morning harvest, when heads are crisp and hydrated, yields the best storage results.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.
“This heirloom traces its roots to European agriculture, arriving in North America with settlers in the 1860s. The Premium Late Flat Dutch became the standard giant flat cabbage for serious gardeners and farmers who needed reliable storage crops to feed their families through winter. Its success lies in a combination of genetics refined over generations and cultural knowledge passed down through communities that depended on preserved vegetables. The variety has endured because it does what it promises: produce massive, quality heads that store exceptionally well.”