VegetableCabbage
Maruba Santoh Round Chinese Cabbage
Maruba Santoh Round Chinese Cabbage is a heat-loving variety bred to thrive where typical Chinese cabbages wilt in summer sun. Reaching 12, 18 inches tall and ready to harvest in just 30, 39 days, it delivers large, rounded leaves and crisp white stems perfect for raw salads, stir-fries, and soups. Unlike its more heat-sensitive cousins, this annual performs across hardiness zones 2, 10, giving gardeners in warm climates a reliable way to extend their Chinese cabbage season well into summer.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
2-10
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained Loam, Tolerates Poor Soils
Growth Stats
18 in
Height
Spacing
18
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
2-10
Size
18in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
Moderate
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Highlights
Its exceptional heat tolerance sets Maruba Santoh Round apart from other Chinese cabbages, allowing gardeners in warm climates to harvest continuously rather than watching plants bolt when temperatures spike. The juicy white stems and tender rounded leaves deliver both visual appeal and satisfying crunch, making it equally at home in a summer salad or a steaming stir-fry. With a 30, 39 day harvest window and compact 12, 18 inch mature height, it fits neatly into succession plantings and container gardens without demanding much space.
Common Uses
This cabbage shines in summer salads where its crisp white stems and tender leaves provide refreshing crunch and mild flavor. Stir-fries benefit from its ability to hold texture through quick, high-heat cooking. Soups and broths welcome both the leaves and stems, which soften while retaining subtle sweetness. Its heat tolerance makes it especially valuable for gardeners seeking fresh Chinese cabbage through warm months when other varieties surrender to bolting.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Direct Sow
Sow seeds directly into the garden for this quick-maturing variety. Time plantings to avoid peak summer heat in warm climates, or rely on this variety's heat tolerance for mid-to-late summer sowings when other Chinese cabbages would fail.
Harvesting
Harvest begins around 30, 39 days after planting. Cut heads at soil level when they feel firm and rounded leaves have developed their full size. In summer, check plants frequently to catch heads at peak tenderness before heat triggers bolting. Individual outer leaves can be harvested as needed for salads without waiting for the whole head to mature.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Brassica rapa var Pekinensis 'Maruba santoh round'
Family
Brassicaceae
Genus
Brassica
Native Status
L48 (I)AK (I)HI (I)CAN (I)GL (I)