Short answer: soak 1 tablespoon of red cabbage seed for 4 to 6 hours in a quart jar. Drain well, then rinse and drain twice a day. Give the sprouts a few hours of indirect light on the last day and harvest them at about 5 days. For microgreens, sow the seed on soil, give it strong light and cut it at 10 to 12 days.
What are red cabbage sprouts?
Red cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) belongs to the same family as broccoli and kale. Its sprouts have pale purple stems and small green leaves and taste mild and sweet. Its microgreens are even more striking, with violet stems and purple-green leaves.
How to grow red cabbage sprouts, day by day
- Day0
Soak for 4–6 hours
Put 1 tablespoon of seed in a quart jar, rinse it, then cover with cool water. Soak for 4 to 6 hours.
- Day1
Drain well
Pour off the water and tap the jar dry. Set it upside down at an angle, out of direct sun.
- Day1–4
Rinse and drain twice a day
Fill the jar with cool water and swirl it, then drain and tap it dry.
- Day5
Green and harvest
Give the sprouts a few hours of indirect light, then rinse once more, dry well and refrigerate.
Sprouting.com gives red cabbage 5 days as a sprout and 10 to 12 days as a microgreen, with a soak of 4 to 6 hours and about 1 cup of sprouts per tablespoon of seed.1
Red cabbage microgreens
- Sow about 10 to 20 g of seed on a 10 × 20 inch tray of moist soil.
- Mist, cover with a second tray, and keep it covered for 2 to 3 days.
- Uncover and give strong light, about 12 to 16 hours a day. More light means more purple.
- Water from below once a day.
- Cut above the soil at 10 to 12 days.
For the darkest purple, give red cabbage microgreens strong light and keep them a little cool, around 65°F (18°C). In dim, warm rooms they stay greener.
Red cabbage and nutrition
In a 2012 USDA study that measured vitamins in 25 kinds of microgreens, red cabbage had the highest vitamin C of the group, and microgreens in general often had higher vitamin levels than mature leaves.2 Results vary a lot between crops and growing methods, but red cabbage is a good choice if you're growing for nutrition as well as colour. See microgreens benefits for more.
Safety
Red cabbage sprouts are eaten whole, like other sprouts. The FDA says higher-risk groups should not eat raw sprouts, and Health Canada advises everyone to cook them.34 Microgreens are cut above the soil, which lowers the risk. Use clean trays and good seed, and refrigerate your harvest.
Problems and fixes
| What you see | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Green, not purple | Not enough light, or too warm | Give strong light and a slightly cooler room |
| Musty jar | Water pooling | Use less seed and drain well |
| Leggy microgreens | Low light | Move closer to a window or light |
How to eat red cabbage sprouts
- Salads and slaws: colour and a mild crunch.
- Garnish: purple microgreens on soups, eggs and grain bowls.
- Tacos and wraps: in place of shredded cabbage.
See how to garnish with microgreens.
Where to buy red cabbage seed
We link to Sprouting.com, a Canadian company that sells red cabbage seed for sprouts and microgreens. Stock varies, so check the product page. Store seed in a cool, dry place.
What to grow next
- Kale: another mild, sweet brassica.
- Purple kohlrabi: purple stems, sweet taste.
- Beet: red stems and earthy flavour.
- Broccoli: the famous sulforaphane sprout.
Browse every seed in the Seed Library.
Recipes with red cabbage
Red cabbage FAQ
How long do red cabbage sprouts take?
About 5 days as sprouts after a 4 to 6 hour soak, and 10 to 12 days as microgreens in a tray.
Why are my red cabbage microgreens green?
Colour develops with light. Red cabbage turns purple under strong light and stays greener in dim conditions. Cooler temperatures also bring out the purple.
Do red cabbage sprouts taste like cabbage?
Yes, but much milder. They're sweet and fresh, with a light cabbage flavour and no heat. They're one of the mildest brassica sprouts.
Are red cabbage microgreens nutritious?
In a 2012 USDA study of 25 microgreens, red cabbage stood out for its high vitamin C content. Microgreens vary a lot by crop, but red cabbage was one of the strongest for that vitamin.
Can you grow green cabbage sprouts too?
Yes, green cabbage sprouts grow the same way. Red cabbage is more popular because of its colour, and it's the cabbage Sprouting.com sells for sprouting.
Written by Michael
A passionate sprouting professional sharing practical tips for growing sprouts and microgreens at home. More about Michael
Sources
- Sprouting.com (Mumm's Sprouting Seeds). Cabbage, Red: days to sprout, soak time and yield. Link
- Xiao Z, Lester GE, Luo Y, Wang Q. Assessment of vitamin and carotenoid concentrations of emerging food products: edible microgreens. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2012. Link
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Selecting and Serving Produce Safely. Link
- Health Canada. Food safety tips for sprouts. Link
