What to do if cabbage starts to crack and why this happens

When harvesting cabbage, you may notice an unpleasant external defect on the heads: the tops have cracked severely, all the way to the core. This is caused by excess moisture, which accumulates in the leaves and causes the heads to split.

Why does cabbage crack?

The main cause of cabbage head cracking is an imbalance in the soil's water balance. This can be caused by:

• irregular watering;
• overwatering;
• rainy summer;
• sudden changes in temperature;
• late harvest.

Cabbage is a moisture-loving crop; a constant supply of moisture is vital. A prolonged break in watering, dry soil, and high (or low) temperatures will cause the entire plant to stop growing. If watering is suddenly resumed, the roots begin to intensively nourish the succulent young leaves inside the head. They begin to grow at an accelerated rate, while the outer, already formed leaves absorb moisture much more slowly. Under the pressure of the rapidly absorbing leaf layers, the head becomes bristly, then the tissues rupture, and the head splits.

The same thing happens after a temperature change: when temperatures drop below 15 degrees Celsius or rise to 30 degrees Celsius or higher, the head of cabbage stops developing. And when the weather becomes comfortable again, a sharp growth spurt occurs. The outer and inner foliage develop unevenly, which inevitably leads to cracks.

The consequences of this problem extend beyond the spoiled appearance of the vegetable. Caterpillars and slugs can crawl into the cracks, eating the cabbage from the inside. Besides pests, cabbage can also become infected—pathogens can penetrate the wounds and enter the inner layers of the cabbage, causing it to rot.

Heads of cabbage infected with pests and diseases are no longer suitable for consumption or feeding to livestock. They will have to be thrown out.

How to avoid cracking

Unfortunately, there's no way to "cure" cracking. Therefore, gardeners have no choice but to take preventative measures to prevent this unpleasant situation from occurring.

Carrying out regular watering

Avoid long gaps in soil moisture. Cabbage should be watered every three days; during dry periods, it's acceptable to water the bed every other day.

Water drainage device

If the soil is too compact or too loose, excess moisture can accumulate in the beds, especially on rainy days. Therefore, it's preferable to dig shallow channels between the rows to drain excess water.

Root undercut

Some of the roots need to be deformed—this will reduce the moisture supply to the roots, which will reduce the amount of nourishment they provide to the cabbage leaves. The roots can be hacked off with a knife or shovel on one side of the cabbage head. Alternatively, you can rotate the base of the cabbage fork a quarter of a circle around its axis.

Use of resistant varieties

Many early varieties of cabbage don't burst. These include:

1. June.
2. Dawn.
3. Express F1.
4. Present.
5. Aggressor F1.
6. Slava 13-05.
7. Rindu F1.

Cabbage of these varieties can withstand a break from watering for several days, up to 7 days.

Mulching

In arid regions, mulching beds with straw, freshly mown grass, or compost is common. This covering material retains moisture in the soil for a long time, allowing the plant to feed continuously.

Following a nitrogen "diet"

When applying fertilizer during vegetable ripening, focus on potassium and phosphorus, while drastically reducing nitrogen. Too much nitrogen in the soil can cause new leaves to form within the head, which can lead to severe pressure and rupture of the leaf layers.

Timely harvesting

The longer a ripe head of cabbage remains in the garden, the greater the risk of it cracking. Large, full heads of cabbage should be harvested no later than two weeks after ripening. Early varieties have loose, mature heads, so don't wait for them to firm up.

What to do with cracked cabbage heads

Split cabbage heads cannot be stored, as they will quickly rot. The only option is to use them for home-made preserves (canning, pickling, stewing, or as pie filling). However, they should be eaten immediately after the crack is discovered and before harmful insects or infection can penetrate.

Conclusion

Cabbage cracking is largely influenced by weather conditions, which are beyond the gardener's control, meaning it's not always possible to avoid cabbage cracking. The risk of this unpleasant phenomenon can be significantly reduced only by taking preventative measures and properly caring for the cabbage bed.