January King

Family: Brassicaceae Brassica

Bedecked in tightly layered, savoyed leaves, January King offers a cool-weather sweetness with a crisp, tender bite and a richly green, slightly buttery flavor.

Its compact heads form slowly and steadily through winter, holding their quality for patient gardeners who love dependable harvests. Ideal for hearty braises, robust slaws, and warming winter sauces—this is savoy cabbage at its most elegant and garden-worthy.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 80 DaysHabit: Rosette

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Mar 28th
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Apr 18th
Harvest Begins	Jul 7th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	80
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)	30
Harden Off (days)	6

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

January King’s savoyed layers give you a tender-crisp bite that braises into silk rather than mush, which is why it holds up in winter heat. Use it where you want that sweet, green, slightly buttery flavor to show off—savoy crinkles are basically a built-in sauce catcher for fats and acids.

Best Uses

winter braise where the leaf turns silky without collapsing
shredded slaw that stays snappy under a creamy dressing
caramelized cabbage side for roast dinners—savoy crinkles help brown edges
hearty winter soup/stew thickener (adds body without graininess)

Flavor Profile

cool-weather sweetness crisp-tender savoy leaf bite slightly buttery, green finish sweet cabbage aroma with mild bite

Kitchen Pairings

butter or brown butter bacon or smoked pork apple cider vinegar caraway caramelized onion mustard

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the most common pest or disease for Brassica oleracea var. capitata (cabbage) in home gardens, and how can I control it?

Watch for cabbage worms (imported cabbageworm and/or cabbage loopers) and white butterflies laying eggs on the underside of leaves. Hand-pick larvae when you see them, and spray a Bt product labeled for cabbage/Brassica while caterpillars are small; repeat every 5–7 days during active feeding. If you spot black, water-soaked stem lesions or leaf spots, remove affected leaves promptly and avoid overhead watering to reduce spread.

How often should I water January King cabbage during the main growing phase?

During heading and leaf expansion, keep the root zone evenly moist—about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water per week depending on rainfall and heat. Water deeply so moisture reaches the main roots, then let the top 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm) of soil dry slightly before watering again. Inconsistent moisture can lead to loose heads or splitting.

How do I tell when January King cabbage is ready to harvest?

Harvest when heads feel firm (squeeze test: they should compress slightly but not feel hollow) and the outer leaves are a mature color for the variety. Let heads reach the typical ~80-day timeframe, but don’t wait until they start to crack or separate—cut heads promptly at the base with a sharp knife. If weather is hot, check firmness more frequently to avoid head splitting.