What kind of decent garden is possible without cabbage? There are now so many varieties and types of it that it is possible to satisfy the most sophisticated taste of a vegetarian, and not only that.
Cabbage from the garden is a vegetable that can be stored well even without a cellar, if you follow the appropriate nuances, which is why cabbage is so popular among gardeners.
Different types of cabbage are similar in terms of cultivation techniques, and in most cases, gardeners have the question of when, how and what leaves should be removed from the vegetable when the cabbage gains growth vigor, we will talk about this in the article, taking into account the peculiarities of cultivation known species cabbage
Why does cabbage need lower leaves?
Cabbage leaves, and not only the lower ones, serve for the same photosynthesis, provide vital functions and are an important vegetative part. By the way, the lower leaves become only as the cabbage matures, when at least two months have passed since germination - for early varieties, and at least three, for late-ripening varieties.
In the first months of life, cabbage needs all available leaves and it is unacceptable to remove them. With the help of foliage, the vegetable nourishes itself and takes in sun vitamins.
When planting, only the cotyledon leaves are traditionally removed; they are easily recognized by their shape, which vaguely resembles a heart. In addition, those leaves that were accidentally injured are carefully plucked off.
Premature removal of leaves from cabbage prevents the formation of a head of cabbage. In addition, wounds form on the stem, which at a young age take a long time to heal and serve as a gateway for the occurrence of various rots.
Everyone who has seen how a vegetable grows has noticed that by August the head of cabbage becomes clearly visible, and part of the foliage is located parallel to the ground. The lower leaves at this time perform an important function - they protect the soil from overheating and retain moisture in it, creating shade. This way the cabbage provides itself with some additional moisture.
So, up to a certain point, the leaves serve the cabbage well, but then it’s better to get rid of them, and here’s why.
As soon as the foliage begins to bend to the soil, or even touch it, pests such as slugs, snails and caterpillars immediately notice this. They climb onto the head of cabbage along the leaves and begin their harmful activities. Some pests accumulate on the surface of the soil under the leaves, using them in the heat as a temporary shelter from the sun.
It is necessary to remove all leaves that begin to touch the soil, usually this is done repeatedly as the vegetable grows and the foliage grows. This measure will help protect the plant from slug invasion.
Excessive growth of leaves can also interfere with watering, when the foliage blocks access to the trunk and roots and moisture rolls down them in the direction opposite to the plant.
After a certain period of time, the vegetable needs to be hilled up, and the leaves will also get in the way, so the lowest ones are removed, those that are covered with soil, therefore, when discussing the topic of whether it is necessary to pick off the leaves of cabbage, the answer is obvious: it is necessary.
Perhaps the most important argument in favor of picking cabbage leaves is the formation of a large head of cabbage. Old lower leaves As plants grow older, they become useless; they only waste food. If you remove the foliage in a timely manner, then all the nutrition of the vegetable is redirected directly to the head of cabbage.
A novice gardener is traditionally interested in the moment when to begin the operation of removing tops. If the operation is performed too early, then you can forget about the harvest; cutting off the foliage later is also useless.
The first removal of cabbage tops occurs at the time of hilling, or rather, before it.
The first cutting of cabbage tops is carried out about a day before hilling, so that the cuts have time to heal and the wounds do not get infected after covering them with soil.
For the procedure, choose a warm and preferably sunny day; It’s good if there is no precipitation the next day. The foliage is cut off either using pruning shears, a sharp knife, or broken off by hand.
It’s easy to understand whether cabbage leaves need to be plucked by evaluating appearance vegetable. At a time when the lower foliage begins to lose its appearance: it fades, turns yellow and leans towards the soil, it is removed, in other words, when the natural aging of the lower leaves begins, they are cut off.
Such operations are carried out several times a week, when a large head of cabbage is already formed. Towards the end of the vegetable’s growth, they try to prevent the leaves from lodging.
It happens that the head of cabbage forms sluggishly, reluctantly, and the lower leaves do not die off or grow old, then they are partially cut out, a few pieces at a time, to improve the influx nutrients to the very head of cabbage. If there is livestock in the yard and there is a need to diversify the diet, then it is permissible to remove healthy leaves from the cabbage; in this case, cut one leaf at a time from the plant so as not to greatly weaken the development of the vegetable.
Discussing the topic of whether it is necessary to pick off the leaves of cabbage, we will also dwell on what kind of tops need to be removed.
First of all, these are foliage with obvious signs of disease. The petioles of those leaves on which the pests have settled are also cut off. Such tops are immediately destroyed.
Carefully remove accidentally damaged leaves, as well as those that lie on the soil or interfere with the passage. Immediately cut off the petioles of yellowed tops. The tops that block neighboring plants from the sun are also removed.
When the foliage covers the soil and prevents the flow of moisture, it is also cut off. The removed tops are placed in compost.
Which cabbage leaves are not torn off?
For example, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and kohlrabi also form heads, but not from leaves. When growing these types of cabbage, leaf removal is minimal. Basically, they cut off the one that begins to turn yellow, but this rarely happens with proper agricultural technology.
If there are cauliflower heads in the garden during the ripening period, slightly break them upper leaves so that they cover the head of cabbage, which needs shade when ripening.
U Brussels sprouts Also, only the lowest leaves are removed when they begin to visually age. Kohlrabi leaves are not cut off, only when harvesting they are carefully trimmed with a knife.
2-3 weeks before harvest for white cabbage and red cabbage remove all the tops down to the head of cabbage. If there is a cellar, the cabbage is pulled out along with the roots and hung upside down, so it will be perfectly preserved until spring, or even summer.
If there is no cellar, the stem is cut to a head and stored in the refrigerator or on the balcony. When placing the cabbage harvest on the balcony, the heads of cabbage are placed in a large plastic bag and leave it open so that there is air access, and at the same time monitor the temperature so that it is low above zero.
Broccoli and cauliflower are best stored frozen. After collection, the heads of cabbage are separated and sent to the freezer. They do the same with Brussels sprouts.
But kohlrabi can last until the end of April on the balcony or in the refrigerator, completely retaining its juicy taste, in this it is the leader in storage without a cellar.
How to pick leaves from cabbage video
Even more information about this procedure, such as removing cabbage leaves, can be found in the video.
Gardeners often encounter various problems. Sometimes they are far-fetched. Trying to care for the planted plants as best as possible, they do everything they hear from neighbors or friends. But are such actions always justified? Summer residents often wonder whether it is necessary to pick off the lower leaves of cabbage. It is impossible to answer this question in one word.
The role of the leaf in the formation of the head of cabbage
All development of cabbage is aimed at the formation of a head of cabbage. The leaves are not intended to decorate the plant. They have their own function. During the process of photosynthesis they form substances that are building material for cabbage. Nature has arranged it so that the covering leaves (large lower ones) accumulate a supply of nutrients necessary for its formation. When they are cut off, the plant begins to look for this supply and begins to grow them again. Is it possible to pick off the lower leaves of cabbage when their role is so great? The head of cabbage begins to form when there are at least seven covering leaves. The yield largely depends on how many of them a cabbage rosette contains. And the weight of the plant should not decrease during growth. In addition, these leaves are covered with a waxy coating, which protects the head of cabbage from diseases and pests. In summer, they regulate the temperature and prevent overheating and hypothermia of the inside.
The lower leaves contain twice as much vitamin C as the inside of the head. During the ripening process, the vitamin passes into the tender white parts. Do I need to pick off the bottom leaves of cabbage? If pets eat them, at least they will benefit from it. But the head of cabbage will already contain less vitamin C.
Should I pick off the bottom leaves of cabbage?
The lower leaves are usually broken off. Gardeners explain this by saying that the head of cabbage becomes clean without them and the leaves do not rot. Useful substances are used not for the growth of these leaves, but for the formation of a head of cabbage. When can you pick off the lower leaves of cabbage?
U young plant Each torn leaf delays the ripening of the head of cabbage by one day. Juice flows through the cut site, removing beneficial substances from the plant. This means that you cannot pick off the leaves of young plants, even the lower ones.
But is it possible to pick off the lower leaves of cabbage in mature age, or should you not do this under any circumstances?
But in practice, deletion often occurs. Now many websites have recommendations on why and when you can pick off the lower leaves of cabbage.
Some gardeners believe that tearing off leaves helps air flow between plants. And this, in turn, reduces the risk of rotting and other diseases.
But in fact, aphids and cabbage whites flock to the smell of flowing juice.
Proponents of this method explain the tearing of leaves by the fact that cabbage growing on poor soils has loose heads. And after removing part of the foliage, the head of cabbage becomes denser. But this is done not in the summer, but in the fall, when it is already formed, and all that remains is to grow it.
If you do this while the head is forming, the roots may begin to die, which will negatively affect its size and quality.
When deciding whether to pick off the lower leaves of cabbage, look at their condition. If they are green and strong, then you shouldn’t do this. Often the lower leaves of cabbage turn yellow not in the fall, but in the summer, during drought. The rains are finally passing, but these leaves are no longer green. Therefore, they can be removed carefully.
Why do they do this?
Some, when explaining whether it is necessary to tear off the lower leaves of cabbage, refer to the fact that various pests often settle on them. It could be slugs. They appear on plants in autumn. By this time, the head of cabbage is already quite well developed. Then maybe it makes sense to pick off the leaves. Although, what will stop the slugs from getting through the stalk?
In summer, cabbage suffers from cabbage bean caterpillars and flea beetles. But here you won't achieve anything by tearing off the leaves. Plants are sprayed with chemicals or sprinkled with ash and tobacco dust. The number of pests is reduced if the area where the cabbage grows is free of weeds.
Marigolds or calendula, celery, dill and others planted between rows protect cabbage well. aromatic plants.
Combating vascular bacteriosis
Cabbage may be affected vascular bacteriosis. If the edges of the leaves become yellow, lifeless, and black veins appear on them, then this is a sign of a disease. Sometimes the lower leaves are torn off to prevent the plants from getting sick. Is it necessary to pick off the lower leaves of cabbage in this case? This operation will not save the infected plant. It needs to be completely removed. This must be done carefully so that neighboring plants do not become infected.
To prevent disease, when preparing seeds for germination, you need to harden them by immersing them alternately in hot and cold water. Sick and weak seedlings It's better not to plant.
How to extend the life of early varieties of cabbage
Are the lower leaves of early varieties of cabbage torn off? Sometimes this is done in order to delay the process of cracking of heads of early varieties for as long as possible if they cannot be processed in time.
But experts do not advise doing this. Instead, you can lightly pull the head of cabbage, or rotate it around the trunk, so that the roots are pulled out a little. Moisture will stop passing to the head of cabbage, and it can remain in the ground for quite a long time without cracking or withering.
Will tearing off leaves protect against cutworms and cabbage flies?
But cabbage has pests that are difficult to get rid of without removing some of the leaves. This cabbage scoop And cabbage fly. Should the lower leaves of cabbage be removed when affected by these pests?
The armyworm, emerging from the ground where the pupae from which it develops overwinter, places eggs on the bottom of the leaves. Usually these are the lower leaves. Therefore, their removal in the event of the appearance of these pests may be justified. But you can treat the plants with Agrofit, and the cutworms will disappear.
The cabbage fly, hiding under the lower leaves, lays its eggs in the ground. To find them, remove the soil from the stem. The lower leaves may interfere with this. During processing, they will either come off on their own or you will break them off first.
When to pick off the bottom leaves of cabbage
In autumn, the lower leaves, having given up useful substances to the formation of a head of cabbage, turn yellow and wither. They can no longer participate in the process of photosynthesis, and therefore are not needed.
If the lower leaves rot, wither or are severely damaged, they are removed. After all, they can infect other leaves and heads of cabbage.
But they will rot when the soil is too wet. In this case, you need to reduce watering or drain the water.
There are experts who see nothing wrong with removing the lower leaves. Although they note that this depends on the properties of the particular variety. They believe that the lower leaves in the fall no longer release useful substances, but only take them from other parts of the plant. A lot of moisture evaporates through them. If the covering leaves shade the head of cabbage too much, they can be removed. It is recommended to do this in such a way as to break them off completely.
Preventing rot
It may be justified to tear off the lower leaves of the cabbage if the head of cabbage is very loose. This is done a month before harvest. After this procedure, the head of cabbage often becomes tight.
But this usually happens when fertilizers are applied incorrectly. There is too much nitrogen, and not enough phosphorus and potassium. By properly providing these elements, you can get a dense head of cabbage, and the leaves will help it become larger and heavier.
At the end of summer and autumn, cabbage of late and mid-season varieties with favorable conditions gains up to one hundred grams of weight per day. Immediately before harvesting, all lower leaves can be removed. But if you cut off the heads of cabbage along with them, the growth will continue until all the beneficial substances are transferred to the inner part. Sometimes the weight after such growing increases to 15 percent.
Use of leaves
IN household almost nothing is wasted. Torn leaves used to feed poultry, rabbits, and goats. Moreover, by autumn there is usually a small choice of green food for them.
Is it possible to pick off the lower leaves of cabbage?
There is an opinion that the lower cabbage leaves you need to pick it off - the head of cabbage will be denser. Should you really expose the bottom of the plant?
It’s worth figuring out whether it’s possible to tear off the lower leaves of cabbage so as not to ruin the crop.
Do I need to pick off the bottom leaves of cabbage?
Cabbage leaves, like other greens, are needed to obtain proteins, fats, vitamins and carbohydrates. Valuable elements are formed during photosynthesis and transferred to other parts of the plant.
Source: Depositphotos
Do I need to pick off the bottom leaves of cabbage?
The large lower leaves provide the head with nutrients that are necessary for ripening. So, in summer time there is no need to cut them off. This will lead to loss of harvest, because the head of cabbage will not receive enough nutrients.
When broken, a juice is released that attracts insects. They will penetrate into the cracks and destroy the plant.
The lower leaves also protect the plant from overheating and excess moisture.
You need to pick off the lower leaves if they have turned yellow or wilted. This means that they have already given nutrients to the head of cabbage. A couple of lower leaves can be removed in September, when the plant is almost ripe. Air will circulate better near the roots, and they will not rot.
However, if the plant is affected by a disease, you should act differently.
Diseases for which leaves need to be removed
This agrotechnical technique is used if the cabbage is sick. For what diseases are the leaves removed?
Can be used against cutworms and other pests special means, for example, "Agrofit". This will keep the head of cabbage intact.
If cabbage leaves delight you with freshness and a beautiful green tint, there is no need to remove them. They will only benefit the future harvest.
Beginning gardeners often ask the question: Do they need to pick off the lower leaves of cabbage? There are different opinions. Some summer residents say that we eat the heads of cabbage, not the covering leaves, which means they are not needed at all, they only interfere with caring for the cabbage in the garden. Others object, arguing that nature would not have created them without some role in the formation of the plant. Special literature describing the cultivation of cabbage does not say anything about whether it is necessary to pick off the lower leaves of cabbage; they are not discussed at all. Therefore, each owner has to rely on his own opinion and experience in this matter.
All types of cabbage start out as small plants with wide leaves. Growing white cabbage, we plant seedlings in the garden, consisting of several dark green leaves. They grow, new ones are formed, and the process of photosynthesis occurs in them. The head of cabbage begins to form no earlier than we see a rosette with seven wide green leaves that continue to grow along with the white head of cabbage. They stop growing shortly before the vegetable ripens; the lowest ones often lie on the ground, no longer as beautiful and fresh as in summer, while others continue to cover the head of cabbage.
Cabbage leaves, from which its growth begins, consuming solar energy, are constantly engaged in the formation of proteins, fats, vitamins, carbohydrates, and gradually give them to the head of cabbage as it is formed. If in the summer they contain much more vitamin C than the developing head of cabbage, then in the fall, shortly before harvesting, the situation changes dramatically.
The covering leaves are covered with a waxy coating; they protect the entire plant from the penetration of pests and pathogens. They also provide thermoregulation, protect against overheating or hypothermia, and conserve moisture.
Video “Should I cut it off”
From the video you will learn whether it is necessary to pick off the leaves of cabbage, what is the benefit or harm.
Should I cut it off?
Is it necessary to pick off the leaves involved in the formation of the head of cabbage? It would seem that there can only be one answer, but there are gardeners who are convinced that without the lower leaves a denser head of cabbage will form. They lie on the ground, risking attracting pests and becoming a bridge between pathogens and cabbage. Without them, it is easier to weed the garden bed and loosen the soil around the plant. But in fairness, it is worth noting that weeds do not grow under drooping leaves, and pests attracted by the juice of the cut off part of the plant are more likely to attack it, and the wound will become open gates for infection. 
Tearing off the leaves slows down the formation of the head of cabbage and may even cause the roots to die. Without covering leaves, the yield is much smaller. Experience has shown that if you remove them from some plants at the beginning of September, then by the time the harvest is harvested, the head of cabbage with leaves will grow much larger and will be tighter compared to those from which they were torn off.
Why do they do this?
Some vegetable growers believe that it is necessary to pick off the leaves of cabbage so that they do not attract pests. But most likely, these parts of the plant organism protect against pests, and you need to scare off unwanted neighbors in other ways. 
For example, it is good to plant aromatic plants in a garden bed among cabbage: a little dill, celery, a few calendula bushes, marigolds. If flea beetles or cabbage bean attacks, it is better to sprinkle the plants and the ground around them with crushed wood ash and tobacco dust. The most radical remedy is chemical treatment, but removing leaves is unlikely to help.
Combating vascular bacteriosis
Is it possible to pick off leaves when they are affected by vascular bacteriosis? Naive beginners hope that the yellow border along the edge, black veins, and the death of the leaf blade will not advance further. Unfortunately, this is not the case. If the disease manifests itself in this way, then the entire plant is affected; it must be removed from the garden as soon as possible in order to protect the rest.
The only way to prevent this unpleasant disease is by hardening the seed, for which the seeds are alternately placed in hot and cold water.
The quality of the seeds, even the quality of the seedlings, affects the appearance of the disease, but not the presence of the lower leaves; the disease simply appears on them first of all.
How to extend the life of early varieties of cabbage
Sometimes gardeners are interested in when to pick off the lower leaves of cabbage in order to keep them in the garden early cabbage. Since the growth and formation of the head of cabbage depends on the presence of covering leaves, their removal can prolong the process, according to inexperienced gardeners. This is wrong. If you remove the leaves, growth will simply stop, and the risk of disease and damage by pests will increase for the crop. 
If the crop is ripe, but the owner is not yet ready to process it, you just need to pull the plant or twist it slightly around an imaginary axis. Then the connection between the roots and the ground will be interrupted or at least reduced, the head of cabbage will not consume moisture, but can simply be stored in the garden for a long time without the threat of cracking.
Will tearing off leaves protect against cutworms and cabbage flies?
You won’t be able to get rid of such persistent pests as cabbage flies and cutworms by simply tearing off the lower leaves. To get rid of them, you will have to use special means, for example, they fight the cutworm with Agrofit. Cutworm pupae and fly eggs are in the ground, from where pests enter the plant. 
The armyworm lays its eggs on the underside of leaves. The absence of a lower one will not prevent her from laying eggs on the next one. And in order to destroy the fly eggs, you will have to get to the ground under the leaves; they may simply suffer during the fight against pests, but cutting them off will not help this fight.
When to cut off
The plant needs every leaf, so all the covering elements perform their functions until the harvest ripens. In the fall, before harvesting, they had already lost all their useful substances, turned yellow, and dried out. Many vegetable growers cut them off before harvesting, since they have already served their purpose. If they look completely healthy, without rot or damage, then experts recommend cutting off the head of cabbage along with them. Even a cut head of cabbage continues to grow as long as there is something to take substances from.
Often the lower leaves that fall to the ground rot shortly before the head of cabbage ripens. Of course, they need to be removed so that the rot does not go further. But this is also their task - to preserve the plant and show that the ground is too wet. Watering should be stopped as soon as the first signs of rot appear.
Three to four weeks before harvesting, the leaves are removed if the head of cabbage is too loose. They say this helps make it tighter. But, most likely, the looseness is explained by an imbalance of minerals - excess nitrogen, lack of phosphorus and potassium lead to such results. It is necessary to fertilize the plant with potassium and phosphorus to improve the quality of the crop. 
Some vegetable growers have experimented with removing leaves from different stages growing season. Results confirm the need for leaf cover for growth and maturation good harvest. There is only one condition - they must be healthy all the time, only in this case they can fulfill their task - to raise, nourish, protect, preserve.
Video “Pros and cons of the method”
From the video you will learn whether you can or cannot pick cabbage leaves.
Whether it is necessary to pick off the lower leaves of cabbage and what this gives is of interest to many summer residents and gardeners. Cabbage is the queen of the garden; it is one of the most beloved and grown crops. It contains many useful substances and vitamins, which it retains throughout winter period. Therefore, it is so important to know how to grow a rich, healthy harvest and to properly store forks for a long time.
Is it possible to pluck the first leaves of a rosette?
The quality of the crop is influenced by numerous factors that must be taken into account when planting and caring for vegetables. In autumn, closer to harvest, huge cabbage tops intertwine with each other. Most gardeners are tempted to get rid of them by carefully picking them off and leaving the peeled head to ripen. Not everyone knows how advisable this is and whether it is necessary to remove the lower leaves.
The answer to this question is almost unambiguous: you cannot cut off part of the rosette of healthy, undamaged plants - this can have a very bad effect on the general condition of the crop, the size of the forks, and the duration and quality of storage of the harvested crop.
Important! During the process of photosynthesis, the necessary substances for the growth and development of the vegetable accumulate in the ground part. The cabbage head begins to form when 6-7 lower leaves appear.
The supply of useful minerals and vitamins accumulated at the bottom of the socket is used for further growth and formation of the socket. If you remove this part of the rosette, the cabbage will try to restore the balance of nutrients. Thus, the growth of the head of cabbage slows down, which adversely affects the harvest.
Why pick off the lower cabbage leaves?
Picking off the tops of cabbage heads is allowed only in cases where the benefit from this outweighs the possible harm.
- The planting is too thick, poorly ventilated, and there is a risk of forks rotting or being affected by various diseases.
- The soil is not fertile enough, poor in nutrients, and the forks turn out loose. In this case, it is necessary to tear off the near-ground part of the rosette so that the head of cabbage ripens and becomes denser.
- When the lower tops turn yellow from lack of moisture, it is better to remove them, since they will no longer be useful.
- If they interfere with the hilling of plants, watering, or the penetration of moisture to the roots, they also need to be torn off.
Pros and cons of removing cabbage leaves
Even if there are good reasons for cutting off near-earth cabbage tops, you need to carefully weigh the pros and cons. We must remember that when it is picked, cabbage loses essential nutrients, which will negatively affect the general condition of the plant. It is not recommended to tear off healthy and green tops even when storing them, as they continue to give vitamins and minerals to the cabbage, protecting its interior from damage and drying out.
In the beds, the near-earth tops, which have a waxy coating, protect against the penetration of harmful insects, aphids, slugs, and cabbage whiten into the plant. Sap escaping from the scrap can further attract pests. To combat them it is better to use chemicals- interrupting will not help here.
When to remove the lower leaves of cabbage
Before the head begins to form, you cannot cut off the tops, as this will greatly slow down the development of the head of cabbage and will negatively affect its size. If the seedlings are susceptible to disease and damaged, it is better to get rid of them immediately. In the fall, when the head of cabbage has already formed, you can get rid of yellowed, dried and damaged cabbage tops.
In the early early ripening varieties You can cut off part of the rosette in summer to avoid cracking of the cabbage heads.
Rules for removing the lower leaves of the cabbage rosette
Experts are of the opinion that in the fall, the near-earth tops stop supplying useful substances to the plant; on the contrary, they begin to absorb them. In addition, it thickens the beds, in rainy autumn promotes rotting, and in dry weather, plants lose a lot of moisture through it. During this period it is necessary to cut off bottom part in cabbage, leaving the stem bare. If you do this a month before harvest, the forks will become much denser.
During the ripening period of cabbage, plucking should be done gradually - no more than one leaf every 5-7 days, so that the plant loses as little juice and nutrients as possible, and the wound heals quickly. The cut should be sprinkled with ash and tobacco dust to protect the plant from infection and pest damage.
Conclusion
It depends on the general condition of the crop whether it is necessary to remove the lower leaves of cabbage. If possible, it is necessary to avoid tearing off green cabbage tops, or do so with care, so as not to cause further damage to the plant.
