Red cabbage is delicious and he althy. That's why more and more hobby gardeners are growing it in their own gardens. But what about the harvest? When is it ready to harvest and how is it harvested correctly? We explain.
When and how do you harvest red cabbage correctly?
You harvest red cabbage when it is plump and round, usually from mid-August to November. Mini red cabbage or early varieties can be harvested from the end of June. Using a sharp, clean knife, cut the red cabbage just above the ground and remove the outer leaves.
Harvest time for red cabbage
Red cabbage can be grown early from April and planted outdoors from May. Mini red coal can be harvested from June onwards. However, these cannot be stored for long. However, they are delicious and can be made into decorative salads. There are also some early varieties that are already an impressive size in June.
If you want to harvest “supermarket size” red cabbage, this is usually possible from mid-August to November. Harvest your red cabbage when it is plump, round and the desired size. If you wait too long to harvest, the red cabbage will burst and become tough. You should also definitely harvest red cabbage before the first frost because it is not hardy.
The correct procedure for harvesting red cabbage
Once the cabbage has reached the desired size, arm yourself with a sharp, clean knife and get to work:
- Remove outer, protruding leaves.
- Then cut the cabbage just above the ground.
- Be careful not to damage the leaves and cut the cabbage deep enough so that it doesn't fall apart.
- Then shake off the soil and dirt and remove any additional dirty or protruding leaves so that only a round, clean ball of red cabbage remains.
After the harvest
If you want to store your red cabbage, you should definitely not clean it with water and be careful not to damage it when harvesting! It can then be stored in the refrigerator or in a cool cellar for several weeks to several months.
The most important things at a glance
- Harvest mini red cabbage or early varieties from the end of June
- Harvest late and medium-late varieties from mid-August
- work with a clean and sharp knife
- Do not damage red cabbage and only clean it dry before storage
Tip
The development time of red cabbage varies depending on the variety. Here we have summarized the most important varieties and the time from sowing to harvest for you.
