How We Maximize Our Cabbage Harvest

In my winter studies one year, I came across the idea that it was possible to achieve multiple harvests from the same cabbage plant. This piqued my interest as one more way to grow more food with less work and make better use of our growing space. However, since this practice was not very common, I was unable to find research on the subject.

Therefore, I decided to devote one 50 square foot bed to a multi-cut cabbage trial the following season and here is how the planting and harvest dates played out. The variety we used for this trial was called Golden Cross and I purchased the seeds from T & T Seeds. This particular variety matures very quickly.

March 26: Seeded cabbage indoors in 1 inch soil blocks
April 18: April was colder than usual so I potted up plants into 4 inch pots to buy a bit more time.
May 4: 26 cabbage plants were transplanted into 30 inch wide outdoor garden bed in two rows 16 inches apart with the plants also spaced 16 inches apart in the row.
June 13 - 27: First heads were harvested as they matured. Total mass of this first harvest was 25.5kg and the average head was 1 kg in size.
July 27 - August 31: Baby heads were harvested as they matured. Total mass of this second harvest was 42kg and the average head was 300 - 400g in size.

Did you catch those numbers? The total weight of the first heads harvested was 25.5kg (56 lbs), but then the plants continued to produce for two more months yielding 42kg (92 lbs) more. That's 67.5kg or 148lbs of cabbage from one 50 square foot bed!

We’ve harvested multiple cuts from our cabbage over several seasons now. The secondary harvest has not always exceeded the first harvest by this same margin, but it has always equaled or surpassed the first harvest.

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[RayneFace]

I had no idea they could have secondary growth, very cool! Thanks for sharing ☺️

[ShakiraYah]

Shut the front door, living in the deep south the thermostats set to hell! I never knew they grew outside shoots ...
I done seen it all. Thanks for sharing ❤

[elliestarrco]

I did this with my broccoli, I’ve been eating broccoli from the same plans since May

[smallfootprint]

Those leaves form a head, but all those surrounding leaves are wonderful. I saute them with onion and carrot in a little vegi broth, or water. That together with a couple potatoes or some rice, makes a beautiful meal.

[Bettyish]

I love how the secondary growth has fractal growth patterns..

[carmelbronze]

Cabbage sprouts are delicious, tender and don't take long to cook.

[erikafernandez]

Used to see some of my cabbage regrow in my refrigerator, we did not use to grow them in my country with family. Though I have the idea because a friend of mine used to tell me that one day am going to be regrowing that particular plant from my house food. And we used to laugh about it. Now it's conform that its duable. Thank you Jesus. There's many ways to do harvesting getting a better results.
Thank you for sharing!!!
And God bless you.

[ragtop]

Great info. Youre teacing your children good things. A batch of sauerkraut is in order!

[quin]

Man every time I see your videos I am blown away

[nez_ic]

woah, they're like giant Brussels sprouts

[tadibrothersJNS]

Read the description and very interesting, an extra two months has achieved surprising results .

[MA-yvdw]

❤😊God bless your beautiful family 🙏🏾❤️💯 I appreciate you sharing with us all 💓🙏🏾

[TaylorinShirewood]

Love what you do, love the data, love the practicality! <3

[geode]

Great info!
Thank you!
what about napa and bok choi?

[acrelake]

Never thought of this, though the pattern is the same as broccoli. Neat! I really like cabbage, I'm going to try this out this year🎉

[MO-npdo]

I cut one back at the end of last year. It started regrowing a new one in the spring.

[ReapingTheHarvest]

Do you keep all of the secondary sprouts, or do you remove some so that the others get bigger?

[rolandawhitehead]

(Baby cabbage) we call it SALINGIT in Cordillera Philippines

[TeeBoyd]

They're almost between a full head of cabbage and brussel sprouts. Also, the smaller ones do they taste slightly different?

[elizabethstump]

I like smaller cabbage heads because a whole big one is too much.