The lower leaves of the cabbage must be removed in August. The reasons are clear

Growing your own heads of white cabbage is definitely worth it. It’s perfectly juicy and makes absolutely brilliant salads. However, cabbage is usually also grown for pickling. Whether we’ve planted it in the garden for any purpose, it’s definitely worth giving it proper care in August. This mainly involves looking after the lower leaves of the cabbage. These are usually removed. However, this isn’t always necessary, and it’s important to do it correctly. We’ll therefore take a closer look at this seemingly simple task.

The lower leaves are very important for cabbage

Undoubtedly. Logically, they provide protection for all the inner leaves within the cabbage head. They thus prevent any external damage. They are also one of the richest sources of vitamin C, and removing them reduces the amount of vitamin C in that particular head. Among other things, the outer leaves of cabbage also help to retain moisture, which is vital for the cabbage’s growth. Thanks to them, evaporation is slowed down and watering does not need to be done as often.

Photo: Pixabay

Only obviously damaged leaves should be removed

That’s right. It would be a mistake to think that the leaves need to be removed automatically. Only dried-out, rotten or pest-infested leaves need to be removed. After all, pest damage is always most evident on these very leaves. They usually change colour, or you may see various brown trails left by the pests.

Tip: We’ve made a delicious sauerkraut casserole. It’s well worth a try.

How to remove the outer leaves of a cabbage

The leaves must be removed very carefully, otherwise the base of the cabbage will be damaged. This allows bacteria and mould to penetrate the plant, which would gradually destroy it. You should have disinfected scissors or a knife to hand. You should only remove them when they are no longer serving their purpose – when they are severely wilted and are actually harming the plant. Care must also be taken with watering; the soil should never be allowed to dry out completely.

Sources: Author, Meta

Photo and gallery: Pixabay