Ruby Ball Improved Cabbage is a red cabbage cultivar that matures in just 78 days from transplanting, delivering deep crimson heads packed with anthocyanins and vitamin C. This Brassica oleracea variety thrives in full sun with consistent moisture, making it a reliable choice for gardeners seeking both nutrition and visual drama in the vegetable garden. The compact 4-inch spacing allows for succession planting in tight beds, while its relatively quick maturity means you can harvest before summer heat stress becomes a problem.
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Red cabbage stands out from its green cousins not just in color but in nutritional firepower, loaded with anti-inflammatory anthocyanins that give it deep crimson hues. At 78 days to harvest, this cultivar rewards patient gardeners with substantial heads in a single growing season. The tight 4-inch spacing between plants means you can pack surprising density into a bed, and because early types must be harvested promptly to prevent splitting, timing your succession plantings keeps the kitchen supplied with peak-quality heads throughout the season.
Red cabbage is a nutritional powerhouse at the dinner table, delivering the least amount of fat per serving among common vegetables while serving as an excellent source of vitamin C and antioxidant phytonutrients. Its striking color and mild flavor make it equally at home in slaws, pickled preparations, braised side dishes, and fermented kraut. The dense heads store well, extending the harvest's usefulness through winter months when fresh vegetables become precious.
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Start seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before your last spring frost date, keeping soil temperature around 70°F. Transplant into larger containers as seedlings develop true leaves, hardening off gradually over 7-10 days before moving to the garden.
Transplant seedlings into the garden after the last spring frost when soil has warmed. Space plants 4 inches apart with rows 2 inches apart. Bury seedlings slightly deeper than their container depth to encourage strong root development.
Direct sowing is not recommended for this variety. If you choose to direct sow, add 25-35 days to the stated days-to-maturity (78 days from transplant) to account for germination and seedling establishment. Sow from March through June for spring and early summer harvests; fall sowing is not recommended for this cultivar.
Ruby Ball Improved Cabbage matures in 78 days from transplanting. Harvest when heads feel firm and compact to the touch, before they begin to split. Cut heads from the stem, leaving 2 or 3 outer wrapper leaves intact to protect against bruising during handling and storage. Remove any yellowing or damaged leaves before storing. Early varieties like this one must be harvested promptly once mature, as they can burst quickly if left in the field too long. You may encourage a second, smaller harvest by removing the main head while leaving the roots and outer leaves in the ground; the plant will sometimes produce side shoots.
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