What it is
Cabbage Savoy Tundra F1 is a modern F1 hybrid winter cabbage from Mr Fothergill's Seeds, produced in partnership with the RHS and awarded the RHS Award of Garden Merit for its outstanding reliability and performance. It is a Brassica oleracea variety that sits between two worlds: it carries the deeply crinkled, dark green savoyed foliage and exceptional frost hardiness of a traditional savoy cabbage, and combines it with the crisp, dense, well structured head of a white ball head type. The result is a winter cabbage that neither compromises on flavour nor on appearance, and which sets a genuinely high standard for what a homegrown winter brassica can be. Compact heads weigh in at around 1.25 to 2.5kg with a neat, tidy appearance that makes it as satisfying to harvest as it is to grow.
Why it is good
Tundra F1 earns its place on the plot because it fills a gap that very few crops can cover: deep winter, when most of the veg garden has nothing left to offer. It is exceptionally frost hardy, capable of standing in the ground through hard British winters without deteriorating, and once mature it holds well from November right through to April. That standing ability is a significant practical advantage, effectively turning it into a living store rather than requiring you to harvest and refrigerate at a fixed point. The flavour is sweet and nutty, improved by cold weather rather than damaged by it, and the crisp texture works equally well shredded raw into coleslaw, braised in a winter stew, or simply steamed alongside a roast. It is also a quick maturing variety for a winter cabbage, typically reaching harvest around 110 days from planting.
Growing performance
Tundra F1 is straightforward to grow but benefits from good soil preparation and a disciplined approach to brassica rotation. It prefers a sunny position in firm, fertile, well drained soil with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH: if your soil tends to be acidic, liming before planting is worth doing. Incorporate plenty of well rotted organic matter ahead of planting, ideally a few weeks in advance to allow the ground to settle. Space plants around 45 to 60cm apart with 60cm between rows to allow heads to develop fully and reduce the risk of disease. As with all brassicas, do not grow Tundra F1 in a spot where cabbage or other brassicas were grown the previous year. Net the crop with fine mesh from the outset to protect against cabbage white butterflies and pigeons, both of which will find it without much trouble. Feed regularly with a potassium rich fertiliser through the growing season and water consistently, especially during dry spells, as irregular watering can cause heads to split.
Harvest and outcome
Heads are ready from November onwards and will stand happily in the ground until April, giving you one of the longest harvest windows of any vegetable on the plot. Harvest when heads feel firm and dense to the touch, cutting cleanly at the base with a sharp knife. The dark green, crinkled outer leaves protect the inner head through cold weather, and the crisp interior holds its quality well even after prolonged hard frosts. Surplus heads can be stored in a cool, frost free place for several weeks. The flavour is genuinely at its best after a frost, which intensifies the natural sweetness: worth timing at least one harvest to coincide with a cold snap if you can.
Who it is for
Tundra F1 is an excellent choice for any grower who wants fresh, homegrown vegetables on the table through winter without relying on a polytunnel or indoor growing setup. It suits allotment growers who plan their rotation carefully and want a reliable, high quality crop to fill the hungry gap. Kitchen gardeners who cook regularly through winter will find it one of the most useful varieties they can grow: hardy enough to ignore and versatile enough to use in almost any winter dish. For anyone who has tried and failed to overwinter brassicas in a difficult spot, the frost hardiness of Tundra F1 makes it worth another attempt.
