Danish Ballhead

Family: Brassicaceae Vegetable

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Danish Ballhead to a garden.

Crisp, cool-sweet leaves form a dense, ballhead crown that feels satisfyingly weighty in the garden—each fold tight as lace, with a fresh green glow and a clean, succulent bite.

Danish Ballhead matures in about 90 days to a well-centered head with excellent firmness, ideal for long-lasting storage and reliable performance when you want dependable cabbage texture. Grow it for hearty salads, braises, and tangy fermented favorites—its balanced flavor shines whether served fresh or transformed into comforting classics.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 90 DaysHabit: Rosette

Botanical illustration of Danish Ballhead

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Danish Ballhead Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	Protected Environment Only
Zone 2a	Apr 27th	May 25th	Aug 23rd – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Apr 17th	May 15th	Aug 13th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Apr 17th	May 15th	Aug 13th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Apr 21st	May 19th	Aug 17th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Apr 17th	May 15th	Aug 13th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Apr 15th	May 13th	Aug 11th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Apr 10th	May 8th	Aug 6th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Apr 6th	May 4th	Aug 2nd – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Apr 3rd	May 1st	Jul 30th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 28th	Apr 25th	Jul 24th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 23rd	Apr 20th	Jul 19th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Mar 13th	Apr 10th	Jul 9th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Mar 4th	Apr 1st	Jun 30th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 23rd	Mar 23rd	Jun 21st – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Feb 6th	Mar 6th	Jun 4th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Jan 12th	Feb 9th	May 10th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 30th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	90
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Rosette
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	45
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	35
Harden Off (days)	6

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

This ballhead type brings a firm, lace-tight crunch that tolerates dressing and time—great when you want cabbage to stay architectural instead of floppy. Cook it gently and it transforms from cool-sweet to mellow-silky, making it a dependable pick for braises and ferments that taste clean, not sulfurous.

Best Uses

shredded coleslaw that stays snappy under a vinegar dressing
braises where the head holds together and turns melting-tender at the edges
long-ferment sauerkraut for a clean, bright tang
stuffed cabbage leaves that don’t collapse into mush

Flavor Profile

cool-sweet cabbage flavor dense, crisp bite with tight leaf structure mild bitterness that sweetens with heat

Kitchen Pairings

caraway mustard (Dijon or whole grain) butter apple cider vinegar smoked pork garlic

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the most common disease or pest problem for Brassica oleracea var. capitata (cabbage) like Danish Ballhead, and how do I fix it?

Cabbage is commonly hit by cabbage worms (cabbage loopers and imported cabbageworms) that chew holes in leaves, especially after heads start forming. Hand-pick larvae in the evening and cover plants with a lightweight row cover as soon as seedlings are in the ground to prevent egg laying; if needed, spot-treat with an appropriate Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) product, following the label. Watch for black “frass” and chewed leaf edges and act early—once feeding is heavy, head quality drops quickly.

How often should I water Danish Ballhead cabbage during the main head-forming stage?

During the main growing phase as heads begin to form (roughly after you see firming toward the center), keep soil consistently evenly moist—about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water per week, split into 2–3 waterings if it’s hot or windy. Let the top few centimeters dry slightly between waterings, but don’t allow the root zone to dry out for extended periods; stress can lead to loose heads and splitting later. Mulch helps keep moisture steady, but avoid waterlogged soil that stays soggy.

How can I tell when Danish Ballhead cabbage is ready to harvest?

Harvest at about 90 days when the heads are firm and reach their full size, with leaves tightly packed rather than springy. Check by gently pressing the outer head—if it feels hard and dense across the whole top, it’s ready; if it still feels soft or opens easily, wait. If you see heads beginning to split, harvest immediately to prevent further cracking and leaf damage.