Savoy Perfection Cabbage brings the exceptional French tradition of crinkled-leaf cabbages to your garden, producing beautiful 5-7 inch heads wrapped in deeply textured, ruffled outer leaves. This hardy variety thrives across zones 2-10 and matures in approximately 90-99 days, developing its signature sweet, delicate flavor that completely lacks the sulfurous bite of ordinary cabbages. Growing 12-18 inches tall in neat mounds, these cabbages actually improve with cold weather, making them perfect for late-season harvests when other vegetables have finished.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
2-10
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam With Consistent Moisture
Preferred Temp60-70°F
Growth Stats
18 in
Height
—
Width
18 in
Spacing
90–99
Days to Harvest
PeriodPerennial
TypeForb/herb
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
2-10
Size
18in H x ?in W
Growth
Perennial
Care
Moderate
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Highlights
What makes Savoy Perfection truly special is its complete absence of that sharp, sulfurous smell and taste that puts many people off cabbage cooking. The leaves form a gorgeous crinkled pattern that's both beautiful in the garden and functional in the kitchen, with their loose wrapping style creating better flavor than tightly-headed varieties. This French-originated drumhead storage variety actually welcomes light frosts, which further develops its naturally sweet character and makes it an ideal choice for extending your harvest well into fall.
Common Uses
This variety excels in dishes where cabbage's natural sweetness can shine without any harsh sulfur notes. The loose, crinkled leaves make it perfect for stuffed cabbage rolls, coleslaw with exceptional texture, and braised dishes where the delicate flavor won't overpower other ingredients. Its excellent storage qualities make it ideal for winter cooking when fresh vegetables are scarce.
Growing Timeline
First Bloom
Not Applicable
First Harvest
100-110 Days After Planting
Last Harvest
120 Days After Planting
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors and transplant after the final frost, hardening off plants over a week-long period to acclimate them to outdoor conditions.
Transplant Outdoors
Transplant hardened seedlings after the final frost date with 18 inches between plants and 3 feet between rows.
Direct Sow
Seeds can be sown directly outdoors at 1/4 inch depth once soil can be worked.
Harvesting
Harvest when heads feel firm and reach 5-7 inches in diameter, typically after 90-99 days. Remove the entire plant including stem and roots to prevent disease, as these parts decompose slowly if left in soil. The heads are ready when they feel solid to the touch despite their looser wrapping compared to traditional cabbages.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Brassica oleracea L.
Family
Brassicaceae
Genus
Brassica
Duration
Perennial
Growth Habit
Spreading
Native Status
L48 (I)PR (I)CAN (W)GL (W)
History & Origin
“Savoy Perfection traces its roots to France, where the distinctive crinkled-leaf Savoy cabbages were developed as large drumhead storage varieties. These French varieties were prized for their superior flavor profile and their ability to withstand cold weather, characteristics that made them invaluable for winter food storage in European climates before refrigeration.”