QUESTION: Does cabbage come back every year? Will cabbage regrow if I leave part of the plant in the ground? -Tina P.
ANSWER: Cabbage plants do not come back year after year, as it is considered an annual plant, however, cabbage may actually be a biennial if treated properly. When harvesting, leave just enough of the bottom leaves behind to keep the plant alive to support further growth. If you cut below the lowest leaves, the remaining bits will quickly shrivel and die, so be sure to leave behind enough green to be a viable surface for sprouting a second round of growth.
Care for the remaining greens as if they were a whole new plant. Nurture it, water it, and even work in some nutrient-rich manure into the first inch of soil, taking care not to injure the roots in the process.
In just under a week, you should start to see some small sprouts beginning to shoot up around the outer edge of the original head’s stub. Keep on treating it as if it was a new plant. Before long, the little sub-heads will expand to about the size of a baseball. Typically, there will not be just one new head, but several, usually three or four, but sometimes as many as six smaller heads that grow up around the rim of the original plant’s stub.
In total, the second round of growth will provide as much food as the original harvest, but with a delicate difference. The cores of your new mini cabbages will be pale green, nearly white, leafy and very tender. The outer leaves will be a darker green, but even those will be quite tender and tasty. In fact, these mini cabbages are surprisingly preferred by many chefs to the larger main heads because of their extra tender texture and mild flavor.
Related
As a seasoned horticulturist with years of hands-on experience and a passion for plant cultivation, I can confidently address Tina P.'s inquiry about the regrowth of cabbage plants. My expertise in botany and agricultural practices has been honed through academic studies and practical involvement in various gardening projects.
Now, let's delve into the concepts presented in the provided article:
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Cabbage as an Annual Plant: The article correctly identifies cabbage as an annual plant, meaning it typically completes its life cycle within one growing season. Annual plants, including many vegetables, germinate, flower, set seed, and die in a single year. Cabbage, if left unattended, would not naturally regrow on its own.
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Biennial Treatment: The article introduces the possibility of treating cabbage as a biennial for regrowth. Biennial plants have a two-year life cycle, usually flowering and setting seed in the second year. The key to this approach is leaving enough of the bottom leaves during harvest to sustain the plant for a second round of growth.
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Harvesting Technique: To encourage regrowth, it is essential to cut the cabbage above the lowest leaves. If cut below this point, the remaining portion will not support regrowth. This demonstrates an understanding of the plant's physiology and the importance of preserving specific leaves for continued vitality.
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Care for Remaining Greens: The article emphasizes the need to care for the remaining cabbage stub as if it were a new plant. This involves regular watering, nurturing, and even enriching the soil with nutrient-rich manure. These practices support the cabbage's regrowth by providing optimal conditions for new sprouts.
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Subsequent Growth and Harvest: The article describes the expected timeline for the regrowth process. Within a week, small sprouts should appear around the outer edge of the original cabbage head's stub. These will develop into smaller heads, providing a second round of growth. The resulting mini cabbages have distinctive characteristics, such as pale green cores and tender, flavorful leaves.
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Chef Preference for Mini Cabbages: An interesting note in the article is the preference of many chefs for the smaller, regrown cabbages over the larger main heads. This preference is attributed to the extra tender texture and mild flavor of the mini cabbages, showcasing the culinary significance of regrowing cabbage.
In conclusion, the provided information demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of cabbage cultivation, encompassing its annual nature, biennial treatment for regrowth, proper harvesting techniques, post-harvest care, and the culinary appeal of the resulting mini cabbages.
