Don’t Lose Your Head: How to Prevent Homegrown Cabbages from Splitting

Cabbage is one of my very favorite vegetables that I look forward to planting, harvesting, and eating every year. Their foliage adds a lush flair to the garden and sliced cabbage with a little mayo and mustard mix or a vinaigrette is one of my go-to side dishes (or even a snack).

So when I noticed that my beloved cabbages looked like they had been munched by critters, my heart sank. Turns out the heads had actually split apart at the top, which I didn't know could even happen. So what caused the splitting? Could I still eat them? And how could I prevent it from happening in the future? Here's what I found out from an expert grower.

Corbin Scholz is the Farm Director at Seed Saver's Exchange in Decorah, Iowa, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

Why Cabbages Split

Cabbage plants are actually biennials, which means they have a two-year lifespan. The first year it just grows leaves, which is what we usually want them for, so we harvest them once a head has formed. If you left them and they survived the winter, your cabbage plants would produce seeds before dying at the end of their second growing season.

"Normally, cabbage heads will split and send a seed head up during the second year of growth to produce seeds. So, if your cabbage is splitting during year one, it means it is under stress," explains Corbin Scholz, Farm Director at Seed Saver's Exchange in Decorah, Iowa. "Most likely, this is due to inconsistent moisture or rapid internal growth."

So, for example, if there's been a lot of rain following a dry spell, the plant pulls in the moisture rapidly and the inner leaves swell faster than the outer ones can stretch. The head can burst open under that pressure.

A cabbage that grows steadily and is harvested at the right time is less likely to split. There are steps you can take to keep the cabbages in your veggie garden humming along:

Water consistently. Don't let your soil dry out then soak it. There are gadgets available to monitor soil moisture so you'll know if the garden is getting dry and your plants need more watering.

Don't fertilize after the plant starts to produce a head. Cabbage plants that are over-fertilized are more prone to splitting since this can speed up their growth.

Harvest at the right time. "Don't let the cabbage mature too much," says Scholz. "Harvest it once it's firm and a good size," Cabbage is a cool-season crop and can continue to grow in fall temperatures, but the best time to harvest cabbage depends on what type you're growing. Check the seed packet for the average size of the heads. When it's ready, cut the cabbage at the base of the plant with pruning shears or a harvesting knife.

Consider choosing splitting-resistant varieties. There are so many different types of cabbages—green and red, which are great for coleslaw, Napa (also known as Chinese cabbage) and Savoy. Certain seed varieties are formulated to be less prone to splitting, including Stonehead, Savoy Ace, and Caraflex. Check in with your gardening center or local state extension office about what types of cabbages would do well in your area.

Credit:

Amy Brightfield

Your Cabbage Has Split, Now What?

"Once the cabbage head has cracked, there really isn't going back," says Scholz. But, they're still edible if you harvest them quickly enough. (Whew!) "If you wait too long, rainwater will get inside the head and cause molding." So if you see your cabbage splitting, it's best to harvest it right away (as you can see I did in the photo above) so you can still enjoy the undamaged parts.