Crops in: 52-57 Days (Summer/Autumn)

Description: One of the best red cabbages. Large, tightly packed hearts with crisp, ruby- red leaves. Excellent standing in the ground and storing ability. Delicious as a pickle and a refreshing change as a lightly cooked vegetable with shallots.

Sowing Instructions: Sow under glass in February-March 1.5mm (1/16in) deep in good seed compost, cover with vermiculite. Germination takes 5-10 days at 20-30C (65-70F).

Sowing can also be made outdoors in a well-raked seed bed in March-April. Sow thinly 12mm (½in) deep in rows 23cm (9in) apart. Keep the soil moist until germination. Transplant 60cm (24in) apart at the 5-6 leaf stage in good, firm, soil. Before planting, rake in 3oz sq. yd of a balanced fertilizer.

Growing Instructions: Transplant when large enough to handle into boxes 5cm (2in) apart. Gradually acclimatise to outdoor conditions for 10-15 days before planting out in April-May 60x60cm (24x24in) apart.

Aftercare Instructions: Water in dry weather and give liquid feed as the heads start to develop. Harvest from July-October, dependent on sowing date. To avoid the danger of Clubroot grow your Brassicas in a different site each year so that they only occupy the same spot once in four years. Days to maturity: 110