Merlot Chinese Cabbage F1 Hybrid
Best choice for home gardeners seeking vibrant, fast-growing fall harvests.
Discover the Merlot Chinese Cabbage F1 Hybrid, a fast-maturing variety ready in about 60 days. This Napa type boasts striking bicolored heads with a unique blend of lavender, green, and white leaves, growing to approximately 10 inches. It's perfect for culinary delights like kimchee, stir-fries, and salads, and thrives as a fall crop. Customers praise its excellent germination rates and vibrant color. For best results, plant in fertile, organic-rich soil with consistent moisture to ensure healthy growth and prevent premature bolting.
$3.25
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4.6
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Category Rank
3136
/ 5867
#3136 in Seeds & Seed Tape
Price vs Category Average
-69%
Below average
Botanical Name
.
/ Brassica rapa var pekinensis
Who it's for
- Health-conscious cooks looking for nutrient-dense ingredients with added flavor depth
- Home gardeners seeking striking visual interest in their vegetable patches
- Busy growers needing consistent, fast-maturing crops for reliable harvests
Who should skip it
- Gardeners in regions with unpredictable temperature swings or extreme heat
- Culinary enthusiasts prioritizing vibrant colors in cooked stir-fry dishes
- Budget-minded growers hoping to save seeds for future planting seasons
Performance breakdown
Germination reliability
High-vigor hybrid genetics ensure consistent and dependable seedling emergence.
Harvest speed
Sixty-day maturity window allows for rapid turnover in the garden.
Visual appeal
Striking lavender and green bicolored leaves elevate any culinary presentation.
Culinary versatility
Perfect texture for everything from fermented kimchee to fresh stir-fries.
Seasonal adaptability
Thrives best as a fall crop when temperatures begin to cool.
Growth predictability
Uniform Napa-type heads reach a manageable size for home kitchens.
Key Specs
Botanical Name
Brassica rapa var. pekinensis
Seed Count
30 seeds per packet
Sowing Depth
0.635 cm
Germination Temperature
Optimum 65-85ºF
Plant Spacing
30.48 cm
Variety Type
Hybrid
Yield Per Plant or Area
Packet plants 15-20 foot single row
Recommended Planting Season
Spring and Midsummer for Fall crops
Features
- Striking bicolored heads with lavender hues
- Fast-growing, matures in about 60 days
- Ideal for Chinese and Korean cuisine
- Excellent as a fall harvest crop
- High germination rates reported
- Heads reach approximately 10 inches
- Napa type cabbage
- F1 Hybrid vigor
What customers say
Gardeners consistently praise the Merlot Chinese Cabbage for its exceptional reliability and striking visual quality. The germination rates are highly dependable, making it an easy win even for those new to specialty brassicas. Consumers are particularly delighted by the deep, vibrant red color that distinguishes this hybrid, noting it maintains its hue well into maturity. This robust growth and unique aesthetic appeal translate into high satisfaction, confirming its status as a premium, worthwhile addition to the garden.
Know before you buy
This variety is best suited as a fall crop. You should sow seeds in midsummer to ensure the plants mature during the cooler temperatures of autumn, which helps prevent premature bolting.
The Merlot Chinese Cabbage typically reaches a height of approximately 10 inches. It is a compact Napa-type cabbage, making it a manageable size for home gardens.
Yes, for optimal results, plant in fertile, organic-rich soil. Consistent moisture is essential throughout the growing cycle to support healthy development and prevent the plant from bolting early.
Each packet contains 30 seeds. When planted with the recommended spacing of about 12 inches apart, a single packet will cover a 15 to 20-foot row.
No, this variety is not recommended for container gardening. It performs best when planted directly into the ground in full sun.
The Merlot Chinese Cabbage is highly versatile and excellent for traditional dishes like kimchee, stir-fries, and fresh salads. Its unique bicolored leaves add both flavor and visual appeal to these recipes.
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