Whether from the garden or the supermarket – the leaves of Chinese cabbage rarely look perfect. Sometimes you can find black dots on Chinese cabbage that make you suspicious. Is everything OK with the vegetables?
What are black spots on Chinese cabbage?
The small black dots on Chinese cabbage areLeaf edge necrosis - individual cells that become woody or die. As the name suggests, it occurs primarily on the edges of the leaves and on the leaf veins.
How do black spots appear on Chinese cabbage?
The small black dots on the lettuce leaf always appear in the places where the leaf veins end in small vascular bundles. AnOver- or under-supply of fertilizer is often the reason for the black spots. If the nitrogen supply from the soil is too high during cultivation, this can lead to leaf edge necrosis, as can a lack of potassium.
What are black spots after harvest?
If the small black dots on the jagged edges of the leaves only appear a certain time after the harvest, the reason may be that the vegetables have been storedtoo warm. However, the dots can form over time for no apparent reason, even with ideal cold storage. If you have a very large harvest, it is recommended to at least partially freeze or ferment the Chinese cabbage in order to prevent possible storage damage.
Could the black dots also come from pests?
Pests arenot the cause of leaf edge necrosis in Chinese cabbage.
How to avoid black spots on Chinese cabbage?
To avoid the black dots, you should follow the following instructions:
- Make sure you have anoptimal nitrogen supply.
- Add sufficient potassium with the fertilizer.
- The harvested pointed cabbageDo not store too warm.
Unfortunately, even observing these measures does not guarantee that the pointed cabbage is completely protected from leaf edge necrosis.
Can Chinese cabbage with black spots be eaten?
Chinese cabbage, which has small black dots on its leaves, canbe consumed completely unproblematically and without hesitation. Eating the head of cabbage and eating the spotted leaves pose no he alth risks. You can prepare the vegetables raw as a salad or use them for various hot dishes such as stuffed cabbage.
What if the black dots appear over a large area?
If brown discoloration occurs over large areas and if the Chinese cabbage becomes mushy at the same time, it is not leaf edge necrosis, butbrown wet rotThis plant disease is caused by bacteria or fungi. The affected leaves should not be consumed. Rather, it is highly advisable togenerous cutting awayof these spots and to wash the vegetables very thoroughly. If all of the Chinese cabbage is covered in brown spots and is mushy, it must be sent to the organic or Household waste must be disposed of.
Tip
Cool storage in the cellar
If you want to store fresh Chinese cabbage, it is best to wrap the vegetable loosely in newspaper and place it upright in wooden boxes that are stored in a cool place.
