When to remove lower leaves from cabbage
A Novosibirsk agronomist explains whether cabbage lower leaves should be removed and when pruning becomes necessary as heads gain weight in late August.
Oct 17, 2026 0
Cabbage in the garden has now closed its rows with spreading leaves
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By the end of August, cabbage beds look very dense — the plants have closed their rows and are actively putting on head weight. A Novosibirsk agronomist explained whether the lower leaves of cabbage should be removed and when it will still be necessary to do so.
Should you remove the lower leaves from cabbage
Touching the leaves of cabbage once more only harms the future harvest. They should be cut only as a last resort.
«Every leaf is a factory of nutrients. Why cut them if they are healthy and whole? — says Lyudmila Shubina, an agronomist and candidate of agricultural sciences. — You need to let the cabbage quietly gain weight and make sure slugs do not eat it.»
When to remove leaves from cabbage
Leaves should be removed only if they can no longer perform their functions. Yellowed and rotted green mass can be cut off without hesitation. Such leaves will only become a source of fungal diseases.
The agronomist also advises removing dried-out leaves and those that begin to spoil on the ground, affected by fungus. Two weeks before the main harvest, the lower leaves of late-ripening varieties can be cut off. This way nutrients go to the head and ventilation improves.
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