Savoy Perfection

Family: Brassicaceae Brassica

Planting Schedule

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Savoy Perfection unfurls in a dense, cathedral-like rosette of deeply crimped leaves, cool to the eye with a rich, blue-green glow.

Each head is tender yet substantial, with a finely puckered texture that holds its character through the season’s chill—ideal for those who love greens with a gentle sweetness. Grow Savoy Perfection for hearty salads, braises, and silky purées, or for pickling-forward flavor that benefits from its vivid, leaf-deep structure.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 85 DaysHabit: Rosette

Botanical illustration of Savoy Perfection

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Savoy 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 25th	Aug 18th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Apr 17th	May 15th	Aug 8th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Apr 17th	May 15th	Aug 8th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Apr 21st	May 19th	Aug 12th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Apr 17th	May 15th	Aug 8th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Apr 15th	May 13th	Aug 6th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Apr 10th	May 8th	Aug 1st – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Apr 6th	May 4th	Jul 28th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Apr 3rd	May 1st	Jul 25th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 28th	Apr 25th	Jul 19th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 23rd	Apr 20th	Jul 14th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Mar 13th	Apr 10th	Jul 4th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Mar 4th	Apr 1st	Jun 25th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 23rd	Mar 23rd	Jun 16th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Feb 6th	Mar 6th	May 30th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Jan 12th	Feb 9th	May 5th – 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)	75
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	30
Harden Off (days)	6

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Savoy Perfection’s deeply crimped leaves hold shape without turning tough, so it keeps a pleasant bite in slaw and turns luxuriously silky when braised. Use it like a tender green with a brassica backbone—heat and acid are the trick that sweetens it and makes the texture sing.

Best Uses

braise until the leaves turn silky and sweet, with a little stock and a splash of vinegar
shred for slaws where the crimped leaves keep a clean bite under dressing
cook into a smooth purée or gratin—its texture disappears into a velvet base
pickling in leaf bands for snappy, brine-forward crunch

Flavor Profile

gentle, cool sweetness finely puckered, tender-crisp leaves mild cabbage bitterness that rounds with heat silky mouthfeel when cooked down

Kitchen Pairings

bacon or pancetta mustard (Dijon-style) apple cider vinegar caraway butter and cream smoked pork or kielbasa

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease most commonly affects Savoy Perfection (Brassica oleracea var. capitata), and how do I control it?

Watch for cabbage worms (imported cabbageworm/diamondback moth larvae) that chew ragged holes in Savoy leaves. Hand-pick small larvae and use row cover once heads begin forming; if pressure is high, apply an insecticidal soap or Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) and reapply as directed after new egg activity. Also monitor for black rot and clubroot—avoid contaminated soil, keep leaves dry, and don’t plant Brassicas in the same spot more than once every few years.

How often should I water Savoy Perfection during the main head-forming phase?

During the weeks when heads are enlarging (roughly mid-season to maturity), keep soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. In typical home gardens this often means watering 1–2 times per week, then adjusting to weather so the top few inches stay consistently damp; if leaves wilt in midday and spring back by evening, you’re slightly under-watering. Add mulch to slow drying because Savoy is slow to “close” a loose outer canopy and dries out unevenly if the soil surface is allowed to crust.

How can I tell when Savoy Perfection is ready to harvest?

Harvest at about 85 days when heads feel firm to the touch and the outer leaves are fully developed with good, tight savoy texture. Avoid waiting until heads split—check by gently pressing a few inches around the head; if the center yields like a thick ball, it’s ready, but if it’s still springy and loose, give it more time. For best quality, cut in the morning and leave 1–2 outer wrapper leaves to protect the head in storage.