Ruby Perfection

Family: Brassicaceae Brassica

Planting Schedule

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Sink your fork into Ruby Perfection’s jewel-toned heads—deep ruby-red to wine-purple with a crisp, tightly layered texture that holds its bite.

At maturity (about 85 days), the foliage forms a dense, rounded cabbage with a cool, clean flavor profile that shines in bold, slow-cooked preparations and bright, tangy preserves. Grow this standout for striking color in the garden and a satisfying, crunchy presence in every red-cabbage favorite.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 85 DaysHabit: Rosette

Botanical illustration of Ruby Perfection

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Ruby Perfection 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 18th	Aug 11th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Apr 17th	May 8th	Aug 1st – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Apr 17th	May 8th	Aug 1st – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Apr 21st	May 12th	Aug 5th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Apr 17th	May 8th	Aug 1st – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Apr 15th	May 6th	Jul 30th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Apr 10th	May 1st	Jul 25th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Apr 6th	Apr 27th	Jul 21st – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Apr 3rd	Apr 24th	Jul 18th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 28th	Apr 18th	Jul 12th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 23rd	Apr 13th	Jul 7th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Mar 13th	Apr 3rd	Jun 27th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Mar 4th	Mar 25th	Jun 18th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 23rd	Mar 16th	Jun 9th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Feb 6th	Feb 27th	May 23rd – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Jan 12th	Feb 2nd	Apr 28th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 25th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	85
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)	32
Harden Off (days)	6

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Ruby Perfection’s dense, leaf-by-leaf structure keeps a clean crunch in slaw and turns slickly tender when braised, without going mushy. The cool, slightly peppery bite loves vinegar’s lift and fat’s roundness—so it stands up to slow cooking and punchy pickles alike.

Best Uses

shredded coleslaw that stays snappy (use a sturdy, creamy dressing)
slow-braised red cabbage with vinegar for jammy-tender layers
quick-pickled cabbage for sharp, crackly mouthfeel
cabbage-heavy sautés where the leaves need to hold structure

Flavor Profile

cool, clean cabbage sweetness tight, crisp crunch with tightly layered leaves bright tang when cooked down lightly peppery brassica bite

Kitchen Pairings

balsamic vinegar caraway seeds apple cider smoked pork goat cheese butter

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I prevent and treat cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) problems with clubroot?

Clubroot (caused by soil fungus) shows up as wilting and yellowing plus swollen, distorted roots. Remove and discard the worst plants, and avoid replanting brassicas in the same bed for several years. Improve soil to be less consistently wet, lime to keep pH around neutral to reduce spread, and consider using fresh, amended planting mix if beds are repeatedly affected.

How often should I water cabbage during the main head-forming phase to avoid splitting or stunted heads?

During head formation, keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged—typically about 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week, adjusted for rain and heat. Aim for deep watering that moistens the root zone, and avoid letting beds swing from dry to soggy because that can trigger head splitting in Brassica oleracea var. capitata. Mulch around plants to reduce moisture fluctuations, especially once heads start to form.

How can I tell when Ruby Perfection cabbage is ready to harvest at about 85 days?

Harvest when heads feel firm and reach a good, dense size for your spacing, usually about 85 days after planting. If you can gently squeeze the head and it feels tight with minimal give, it’s ready; if it feels loose, wait a bit longer. Cut at the base with a sharp knife and leave the outer leaves to protect the head during cool storage.