Cabbage Varieties - What's the Difference?

There are several cabbage varieties available to the backyard vegetable gardener. They vary in size and taste. Smaller varieties tend to mature faster, while larger varieties take a little longer. If you live in an area with a short spring season, you may want to plant smaller varieties in the beginning of the year. If the fall season tends to last a little longer, you can plant a larger variety then.

Here is a list of some common varieties of cabbage, along with plant descriptions, etc...

Earliana - heads average 5 inches across and weigh about 2 pounds, good flavor, ready in 60 days after transplanting, light green outside and creamy white inside

Orient Express - this Chinese cabbage variety matures in 45 days from seed, small heads average 1 1/2 pounds, dense center with dark green outer leaves, peppery and sweet flavor, good crisp texture

King Slaw - this large variety averages 15 pounds, ready in 105 days from seed, large blue/green outer leaves, creamy white center is dense, mild flavor

• Two Seasons - this Chinese variety is oblong in shape, averaging 10 inches tall and 7 inches across, dense leafy center is creamy yellow, light green outer leaves, matures in about 65 days after transplanting, sweet and tangy flavor

Salad Delight - this red cabbage matures in 50 days after transplanting, heads are maroon in color and average 3 pounds, inside is dense and almost purple in color with distinct white ribs throughout, sweet and peppery flavor

Early Flat Dutch - this variety features light green outer leaves and a creamy white center, heads average 8 pounds, ready in 80 days after transplanting, dense heads are more flat than other varieties

Early Jersey Wakefield - this variety matures in 70 days after transplanting, heads average 3 pounds, dark green outer leaves and a light colored center, head is almost cone shaped and dense and features a sweet flavor, holds well for a couple of weeks on the plant after maturity

Golden Cross - this cabbage variety matures in 45 days after transplanting, small green heads average 2 pounds and are about the size of a softball, medium green outer leaves and a creamy white center, heads are tight and well-formed, sweet flavor

• Stonehead - this variety features very dense heads, light green outer leaves and creamy white center, holds well on plant for a couple of weeks, round heads average 3 1/2 pounds, matures in 50 days after transplanting, sweet and peppery flavor

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