Deadon Cabbage Variety
The Deadon cabbage variety is really more of a partial savoy. It is similar to the cultivar known as January King, with leaves that are not as crinkly as a savoy but not as smooth as a ball head variety. Like savoy types, Deadon leaves are tender and more delicate than they appear. They are easier to eat raw than the smooth, thick leaves of a ball head cabbage and have a lovely sweet flavor. You can easily enjoy the leaves fresh in a salad, but they also stand up to being pickled in sauerkraut, stir fried, or roasted. The color of Deadon savoy cabbage is also unique. It grows as a striking purplish magenta color. As it unfurls its outer leaves, a lime green head reveals itself. This is a great eating cabbage but can be decorative as well.
How to Grow Deadon Cabbages
Deadon cabbage growing is simple if you follow the general rules for cabbages: fertile, well-drained soil, full sun, and regular watering throughout the growing season. Deadon takes about 105 days to mature and is considered a late cabbage. With a long maturity period, you can actually start these cabbages as late as June or July, depending on your climate. Harvest the heads after the first one or two frosts, as this will make the flavor even sweeter. In milder climates you can start Deadon in the fall for a spring harvest. Watch out for pests in the summer. Cutworms, flea beetles, aphids, and cabbageworms can be damaging. Blast aphids off leaves with a hose and use row covers to protect against larger pests. The Deadon variety is resistant to the fungal disease fusarium wilt and fusarium yellows.
