Ruby Ball

Family: Brassicaceae Brassica

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Ruby Ball to a garden.

Ruby Ball brings a striking, jewel-toned presence to the garden—compact heads with rich, ruby-tinged outer leaves that deepen as they mature.

Inside, the crisp, fine-textured leaves stay tender and sweet, offering a satisfying bite whether you savor them fresh or let them shine in hearty preparations like braises and roasted wedges. A dependable 70-day performer for home gardeners who want both beauty and reliable harvest in every season.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 70 DaysHabit: Rosette

Location not set yet

Enter your ZIP for local crop dates

Ruby Ball 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 20th	May 18th	Jul 27th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Apr 10th	May 8th	Jul 17th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Apr 10th	May 8th	Jul 17th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Apr 14th	May 12th	Jul 21st – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Apr 10th	May 8th	Jul 17th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Apr 8th	May 6th	Jul 15th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Apr 3rd	May 1st	Jul 10th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Mar 30th	Apr 27th	Jul 6th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Mar 27th	Apr 24th	Jul 3rd – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 21st	Apr 18th	Jun 27th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 16th	Apr 13th	Jun 22nd – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Mar 6th	Apr 3rd	Jun 12th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Feb 25th	Mar 25th	Jun 3rd – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 16th	Mar 16th	May 25th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Jan 30th	Feb 27th	May 8th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Jan 5th	Feb 2nd	Apr 13th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	70
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Rosette
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	40
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	35
Harden Off (days)	6

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Ruby Ball’s compact head gives you tight, crisp leaves that shred cleanly and keep their bite—ideal for slaw and fast cooking without collapsing. The mild peppery edge in the outer ruby leaves makes it especially good roasted or braised with butter and mustard.

Best Uses

shredded slaw that stays snappy under vinaigrette
braises and quick sautés where the leaves soften but keep structure
roasted cabbage wedges for caramelized edges
fermentation-friendly crunch for quick pickles

Flavor Profile

crisp, fine-textured crunch sweet, cabbage-like minerality mild bite with a ruby-tinted peppery edge holds shape without turning mushy

Kitchen Pairings

mustard bacon garlic butter apple caraway

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease is most likely to hit Brassica oleracea var. capitata (Ruby Ball cabbage), and how do I control it?

Watch for cabbage worms/loopers (green caterpillars) that chew holes in the leaves. Hand-pick early infestations and spray as needed with a Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) product labeled for caterpillars, targeting the undersides of leaves. Also check for clubroot symptoms (swollen roots and stunted growth) and avoid planting cabbage in the same spot in successive years; if you’ve had clubroot, use fresh soil/raised beds and keep soil from staying waterlogged.

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

During head formation (roughly mid-to-late season), keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy—aim for about 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week, adjusted for rainfall and heat. Water deeply to about the root zone and avoid letting the surface dry out completely, because irregular moisture can contribute to poor head development. If the top few inches dry quickly, increase frequency slightly (smaller, more regular deep watering).

How can I tell when Ruby Ball cabbage is ready to harvest?

Harvest when the heads feel firm and dense when you gently squeeze them—Ruby Ball typically takes around 70 days from transplanting/sowing to maturity. The outer leaves may look slightly tightened around the head, but avoid waiting until the head starts to crack or split. Cut at the base with a sharp knife, leaving a few outer leaves to protect the head for storage.