Winter King Savoy

Family: Brassicaceae Vegetable

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Winter King Savoy to a garden.

Winter King Savoy brings a silken, deeply crinkled green that feels almost velvety in the garden—tight heads form with a regal, layered rosette look as cool weather settles in.

The flavor is sweet and mellow with a gentle cabbage tang, and the texture stays tender through the season, making it a standout for hearty braises, robust sautés, and comforting soups. Grow it for dependable winter performance and a showpiece head that turns every harvest basket into a verdant treasure.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 75 DaysHabit: Rosette

Botanical illustration of Winter King Savoy

Location not set yet

Enter your ZIP for local crop dates

Winter King Savoy 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 1st – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Apr 17th	May 8th	Jul 22nd – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Apr 17th	May 8th	Jul 22nd – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Apr 21st	May 12th	Jul 26th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Apr 17th	May 8th	Jul 22nd – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Apr 15th	May 6th	Jul 20th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Apr 10th	May 1st	Jul 15th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Apr 6th	Apr 27th	Jul 11th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Apr 3rd	Apr 24th	Jul 8th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 28th	Apr 18th	Jul 2nd – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 23rd	Apr 13th	Jun 27th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Mar 13th	Apr 3rd	Jun 17th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Mar 4th	Mar 25th	Jun 8th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 23rd	Mar 16th	May 30th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Feb 6th	Feb 27th	May 13th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Jan 12th	Feb 2nd	Apr 18th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 15th – Feb 28th

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

Winter King Savoy’s crinkled leaves melt into soft, silky strands without falling apart, so it holds up beautifully in long braises and spoonable soups. It tastes sweet and composed rather than sharp, which is why it takes to butter-and-acid finishing like a pro.

Best Uses

braised until the layers go velvety and cling to the sauce
thick-cut sautéing where the crinkles crisp at the edges before turning tender
hearty soups—shredded and added late so it stays springy, not mushy
cabbage rolls or stuffed layers that need structure and then collapse into silk

Flavor Profile

sweet, mellow cabbage tang gentle bitterness with a clean brassica bite silky, deeply crinkled leaves that soften into silky ribbons tender bite even in cold weather

Kitchen Pairings

bacon caraway mustard butter apple cider vinegar smoked paprika

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease commonly affects Brassica oleracea var. capitata (Savoy cabbage), and what should I do?

Cabbage worms (imported cabbageworm or cabbage looper) chew ragged holes in savoy leaves, and they’re hardest to catch early. Inspect plants 2–3 times per week and hand-pick larvae when you see them; follow up with an application of Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) to target young caterpillars while leaves are still forming. If you notice pale, silvery leaf spotting or white flecks that expand into chewing damage, re-check underside of leaves and re-apply Bt according to the label timing.

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

During the 2–3 weeks when heads are forming, keep soil consistently evenly moist—aim for about 1 inch of water per week total, split into 2–3 deep waterings if it’s hot or dry. Check by digging 2–3 inches down: if it feels dry at that depth, water; if it stays wet, slow down to prevent soggy roots that can predispose plants to rot.

How can I tell when my Winter King Savoy is ready to harvest?

Harvest when heads are firm to the touch and have reached a full, tight savoy texture (about 75 days from transplanting/typical schedule). Lift one leaf to look for a solid core—if it feels springy or easily compresses, give it a few more days. Cut with a sharp knife just above soil level, and don’t wait for heads to split.