Sweetheart Cabbage

Brassica oleracea 'Caraflex'

vegetable

A pointed cone-shaped cabbage with a compact, sweet, and more tender head than round cabbages. Similar to the classic Hispi but an improved, larger-headed selection. Matures faster than round types (about 60 to 68 days) and is less prone to splitting. The sweet, delicate flavor is excellent raw in slaws or lightly steamed. A beautiful and space-efficient cabbage for smaller gardens.

☀️

Sun

full sun

💧

Water

Every 2 days

🌾

Harvest

~60 days

📊

Difficulty

easy

🌱

Lifecycle

biennial

Leaves year 1, flowers year 2

↔️

Spacing

15-18 in

⬇️

Planting Depth

1/4 in seed; transplant to first true leaf

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Soil pH

6.5-7.5

Growing Details

Soil Type

Rich, well-draining

Hardiness Zones

Zones 3 – 9

Grown as an annual. This range is its winter hardiness, but you can grow it for a single season in any zone.

When to Fertilize

At transplant; nitrogen side-dress 3 weeks later; taper off once heading begins

Fertilizer

Balanced 10-10-10 at transplant; nitrogen-rich mid-season

🌱 Growing Guide

Start indoors 4 to 6 weeks before last frost. Transplant into cool soil. Sweetheart cabbage is faster-maturing than round cabbages and is especially well-suited to spring growing before summer heat arrives. Can also be grown as a fall crop. The pointed shape makes spacing slightly more efficient than round types. Consistent moisture and cool temps produce the sweetest, most tender heads.

Planting Calendar

spring planting

🌱

Start seeds indoors

Mar 4

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Transplant outdoors

Apr 1

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Projected first harvest

May 31

fall planting

🌱

Start seeds indoors

Jul 21

🌿

Transplant outdoors

Aug 25

🌾

Projected first harvest

Oct 24

JJan

FFeb

MMar

AApr

✅ Plant alongside

Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests

Onion: Deters cabbage moth and aphids from brassica beds
Dill: Attracts parasitic wasps that parasitize cabbage worms
Celery: Said to repel white cabbage butterfly
Marigold: Deters cabbage root fly; general pest deterrence

❌ Keep away from

StrawberryTomato

🛡️ Pest & disease prevention

Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts. Tap a name with an arrow for its full guide

Cabbage worm
Row cover throughout; Bt spray at first caterpillar sign; inspect weekly for white butterfly eggs
Aphids
Water blast colonies off; insecticidal soap; introduce parasitic wasps
Cabbage root fly
Brassica collars at transplanting; beneficial nematodes in soil
Clubroot
Lime soil to above 7.0 pH; strict 3-year rotation; no replanting in infected soil

🌾 Harvest & storage

Harvest when the pointed head feels firm and dense when squeezed, typically about 60 to 68 days from transplanting. The head should be 6 to 8 inches long. Cut at the base leaving a few outer leaves. Sweetheart cabbage holds on the plant for 1 to 2 weeks after maturity without splitting, longer than round types. Refrigerate for up to 2 weeks after harvest.

🥗 Nutrition & benefits

Good source of vitamins C and K, folate, and glucosinolates. The pointed compact shape means a higher ratio of tender inner leaves to coarse outer leaves compared to round cabbages. Contains sulforaphane and indole-3-carbinol with cancer-protective properties.

For educational and informational purposes only. HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.