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.

✅ 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

🛡️ 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.