Red Express

Family: Brassicaceae Vegetable

Crisp, cool crunch meets a bold, ember-deep color in Red Express—heads that emerge with a richly saturated burgundy-red sheen and hold their color beautifully as they mature.

The texture is tight and fine-grained, with a satisfying snap that stays pleasantly resilient from garden to table. Ideal for fresh salads, slaws, and vibrant braises, Red Express brings striking color and lively flavor to every cabbage-forward dish.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 75 DaysHabit: Rosette

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

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Mar 7th
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Apr 18th
Harvest Begins	Jul 2nd
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	75
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

Red Express is built for the cabbage-to-the-table moment: tight heads shred cleanly and keep their snap instead of turning watery. When cooked, the leaves hold color and structure, so it lands as bright, peppery-sweet slaw or a vivid, ember-toned braise rather than a gray mush.

Best Uses

shredded slaw that stays crisp under a creamy dressing
raw cabbage salad with a sharp vinaigrette for snap and bite
quick-to-medium braise where the leaves stay intact and colorful
pan-roasted wedges that char lightly at the edges while staying springy

Flavor Profile

tight, fine-grained crunch with a resilient snap cool brassica sweetness mild peppery bite color-stable burgundy that doesn’t dull fast with heat

Kitchen Pairings

caraway apple mustard bacon black pepper smoked paprika

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the most common Brassica oleracea var. capitata (cabbage) pest or disease, and how do I manage it?

Cabbage often suffers from cabbage worms (cabbage looper/diamondback moth) that chew holes in leaves and frass on the plant. Check leaves under the canopy twice a week and hand-pick early larvae; for control, spray Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) and reapply as directed until chewing stops. If you see yellowing with water-soaked spots or a fuzzy gray growth, remove affected leaves immediately and avoid overhead watering to reduce spread.

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

During head formation (roughly after the plants are well-established and before maturity), keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Aim for deep watering about 1–2 times per week, increasing to 2–3 times during hot or windy weather, and water only when the top 1 inch of soil starts to dry. Mulch around plants helps maintain even moisture, which improves head tightness and reduces split heads.

How can I tell when my Brassica oleracea var. capitata heads are ready to harvest?

Harvest when heads feel firm and reach the expected size for your planting spacing, usually around 75 days from transplanting. Use gentle pressure: a ready head should not compress easily with your palm. If outer leaves begin to loosen while the head remains firm, cut at the base and remove loose outer leaves before storing.