🌱 Sowing & planting
Savoy cabbage ( Brassica oleracea capitata ) is a loose, curled cabbage from the cruciferous family. You can grow it as early, autumn or late winter cabbage.
- Sowing depth: approximately 1.2 cm.
- Sowing method: usually pre-sow in 6 cm pots.
- Germination temperature: from approximately 4 °C.
- Germination time: 🕒 10–20 days.
- Planting distance: 50–60 cm around each plant.
- Growth cycle: average 180 days from sowing to harvest.
📅 Growing times throughout the year
- Early cultivation: sow under glass in February; harvest in June–July.
- Autumn cultivation: sow outdoors in March–April; harvest from August to early December.
- Late cultivation: sow late April–early July; harvest from November to mid-March.
Start cultivation (sowing)
Harvesting
Jan Feb Mar Apr May
JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT
NOV DEC
🪟 Early cultivation
Autumn cultivation
Late cultivation
🪟 Under glass / greenhouse
Outside / open ground
Popular breeds
- Winter King 2 – Savoy cabbage for autumn and late cultivation with firm, curled heads.
Basic information about Savoy cabbage
- Crop group: cabbage crops.
- Crop family: Cruciferous family.
- Height: approximately 30 cm.
- Root system: approximately 30 cm deep.
- Frost resistance: yes; Savoy cabbage tolerates cold and can be left standing in winter.
- Fertilization: a lot compost and well-decomposed (tarred) manure. Nettle manure helps during the initial growth phase; during the formation of the head comfrey manure ideal.
- Soil: pH 6.0–7.5, nutritious, well-worked soil.
Location & water requirements
- Sun: ☀️ lots of sun, in a well-ventilated place.
- Water: 💧💧💧 Water regularly and generously, especially during the growth phase and around head formation.
Companion vegetables
✅ Good neighbors
- Clover (green manure and nitrogen fixer)
- Beetroot
- Aromatic herbs (e.g. thyme, sage, marjoram) as scent diversion for pests
❌ Bad neighbors
- Mustard
- Tomatoes
- Peppers
- Bell pepper
- Strawberries
- Beans
- Eggplant
- Parsnip
Dangers & Concerns
- Cabbage fly – a cabbage collar can help, but insect screen is the safest solution.
- Cabbage whites – caterpillars can eat away a lot of leaves; fine insect netting keeps them out.
🧺 Harvesting & storing
Early varieties are harvested in late summer. Late Savoy cabbage varieties can be harvested from November until well into winter. Harvest the heads when they feel firm and compact.
Nutritional value per 100 g (cooked, without salt)
- 24 kcal
- 0 g fat
- 5 g carbohydrates
- 2 g protein
- 3 g fiber
- 0 g sugar
- Vitamin A, B6 and C
- Thiamine, calcium, phosphorus, copper, magnesium, potassium and manganese
