Super Red 80

Family: Brassicaceae Vegetable

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Super Red 80 to a garden.

Crisp, jewel-toned heads arrive in a rich, velvety red that deepens as they mature—an eye-catching color with a satisfying crunch.

Super Red 80 forms tightly wrapped, heavy cabbages with a fine, dense texture and a pleasantly sweet, cabbage-forward flavor that holds its character beautifully. Ideal for bold salads, vibrant slaws, and tangy fermented or pickled preparations where color and crunch are the stars.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 85 DaysHabit: Rosette

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Super Red 80 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)	45
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	30
Harden Off (days)	6

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Super Red 80’s fine, dense texture keeps its crunch under aggressive acid, so it won’t go limp in slaw or pickles. Use it when you want cabbage flavor that’s sweet-leaning with a crisp bite—and that bruises into a dramatic, velvety red as it matures or ferments.

Best Uses

shredded slaw with a sharp vinaigrette that stays snappy
quick-pickles or refrigerator brine where the crimson stays vivid
fermented red cabbage for tangy, funk-forward crunch
braised or roasted wedges to concentrate sweetness without going hollow

Flavor Profile

sweet, cabbage-forward flavor tight, dense crunch cooling, mildly peppery brassica bite color that turns deeper and more velvety with cook/ferment

Kitchen Pairings

apple caraway white vinegar mustard bacon goat cheese

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the most common disease pest issue for Brassica oleracea var. capitata (cabbage) like ‘Super Red 80’, and how do I control it?

Cabbage commonly suffers from cabbage worms (imported cabbageworm/diamondback) that chew holes in leaves and can rapidly devastate heads. Inspect plants 2–3 times per week and hand-pick caterpillars early, then treat with Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) when you first see active feeding (follow label rates; reapply after heavy rain). For disease, watch for black rot and other brassica leaf issues—remove infected outer leaves immediately and avoid wetting foliage to reduce spread.

How often should I water ‘Super Red 80’ during the main growing phase so heads form properly?

During head formation (roughly mid-season to the last 3–4 weeks before harvest), keep soil evenly moist but not waterlogged, aiming for about 1 inch of water per week total from rainfall and irrigation. Water deeply 1–2 times weekly rather than frequent light sprinkling, and check moisture 2–3 inches down—if it’s dry there, water. Avoid letting the soil swing from very dry to very wet, which can contribute to splitting and poor head tightness.

How can I tell when ‘Super Red 80’ is ready to harvest?

Harvest when heads feel firm and dense when gently squeezed, and the outer leaves have reached the expected size for the variety by about 85 days from transplanting/establishment. Check color and firmness at least every few days in the final week—looser, “springy” heads need more time. Cut the head with a sharp knife, leaving a few outer leaves to protect it during handling.