When it comes to Savoy cabbage, we generally group the different varieties into three categories: early, mid-season, and late. These categories basically tell you when it’s time to get your seeds in the dirt and when you can expect to start harvesting. Let’s dive into the best varieties for each window and what makes them unique.
Early Varieties
If you’re eager to get started, early varieties are your best friend. You can actually start these seeds indoors on a sunny windowsill as early as February. By March, they’ll be ready to move out into the garden. These “spring cabbages” are relatively quick growers, taking anywhere from 16 to 26 weeks to fully mature.
Here are the top early varieties to keep an eye on:
- Variety: ‘Famosa’ / Transplant Outdoors: March to May / Harvest: June to August
- Variety: ‘Vorbote 3’ / Transplant Outdoors: March to May / Harvest: May to July
Mid-Season Varieties
Mid-season varieties offer a bit more flexibility. You can start these indoors in a warm, bright spot toward the end of March. Depending on your schedule, you can transplant them in early spring (March/April) or wait until late spring (May/June).
Check out these popular mid-season picks:
- Variety: ‘Melissa’ / Transplant Outdoors: April to May / Harvest: July to September
- Variety: ‘Goldvital’ / Transplant Outdoors: Starting in March / Harvest: July to October
- Variety: ‘Samantha’ / Transplant Outdoors: March to June / Harvest: June to November
- Variety: ‘Produsa’ / Transplant Outdoors: April to June / Harvest: July to October
Late Varieties
Late varieties—often called “winter savoy”—are the marathon runners of the cabbage world. You’ll sow these in the summer for a fall or winter harvest. They take much longer to develop than the early types, usually between 26 and 40 weeks. The best part? You can keep harvesting these hardy plants well into the following year, even in January or February!
Here are the go-to late-season varieties:
- Variety: ‘Cantasa’ / Transplant Outdoors: April to June / Harvest: October to February
- Variety: ‘Smaragd’ / Transplant Outdoors: May to June / Harvest: September to December
- Variety: ‘Darsa’ / Transplant Outdoors: May to July / Harvest: October to December
- Variety: ‘Vertus 2’ / Transplant Outdoors: March to June / Harvest: September to December
