Should I remove the lower leaves from cabbage, why and when?

Many gardeners remove the lower leaves of cabbage to reduce the risk of disease and make plant care easier. While this procedure undoubtedly damages the plant, it has its share of detractors, but in some cases, its use is justified. The method used for pruning is equally important: the quality of the pruning determines whether the benefits outweigh the harm it causes to the plant.

Role and value

The lower or outer leaves are a fully-fledged organ of the cabbage plant, performing a number of functions, so their removal can negatively affect the condition of the plant and the volume of the harvest.

1. All parts of the cabbage participate in photosynthesis; the loss of any of them disrupts metabolic processes.
2. The lower (green) leaves are needed by cabbage to accumulate nutrients coming from the roots, which are later redirected to the inner (white) leaves, which form the head.
3. The covering leaves perform a thermoregulatory function; without this protection, the fork can suffer from both overheating and hypothermia.
4. The green "shell" that envelops the cabbage head is covered with a coating that protects it from the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms and pest damage.
5. During drought, the central and middle parts of the cabbage can temporarily receive moisture from the outer leaves. Furthermore, the lower leaves shade the area around the trunk, slowing water evaporation from the soil. Cabbage is a moisture-loving crop, so water stress quickly affects the development of the cabbage head.

When to prune

Losing lower leaves is always stressful for cabbage, but in some situations, pruning may be considered advisable.

Removal may be necessary:

1. If the lower part of a cabbage plant begins to rot, the plant needs to be cleared of dying parts, which can no longer provide nutrition, while their decaying tissues create a favorable environment for the development of pathogenic microflora.
2. If the leaves prevent water from reaching the roots during watering, they interfere with the hilling procedure, which is important in cabbage cultivation.

1. Once the cabbage head has formed and begun to ripen, old leaves lying on the ground should be cut off to prevent fungal diseases. With the arrival of autumn rains, they are likely to rot.
2. If a plant is infested with aphids, removing the lower leaves where the insects are nesting can be an alternative to harmful chemical treatments. This method should be used only in extreme cases, when folk remedies and mechanical removal methods fail and the pest infestation threatens the crop. The removed leaves should be burned.

It is not recommended to trim:

1. Before the cabbage head forms. At least seven leaves are needed in the rosette for a head to form. Furthermore, pruning at the early stage of development will delay the formation of the ovary, as the plant will spend some of its energy healing the cuts. As a result, by the time you harvest the cabbage, the head will be smaller than it could have been.
2. Healthy green and even yellow leaves. Heads of cabbage continue to actively extract nutrients from them, causing their weight to rapidly increase during the final stages of development. Preserving the lower leaves is especially important for mid- and late-season cabbage varieties.
3. Don't remove firm green leaves from cabbage heads after harvesting. Even after being cut, cabbage heads continue to draw nutrients from them, which can cause the weight of a head of cabbage to increase by up to 15% of its total weight after being removed from the stem.

Controversial reasons for pruning include the following situations:

1. Head cracking, typical of early cabbage varieties. In this case, any method to reduce the plant's water consumption will be effective—cutting the root or pulling on the head to tear it. However, without experience with such manipulations, removing the leaves will be a simpler task.
2. Cabbage fly and cutworm control. While this is partly rational, pruning alone is not enough to combat these insects. Both the soil and the plant itself will need to be treated, so each gardener must weigh the advisability of causing additional stress to the plant.
3. Looseness of the cabbage heads. If the central part of the cabbage hasn't firmed up a month before harvesting (around mid-September), trim all the leaves from the stem. This is an effective measure, but it deprives the cabbage of some nutrients, preventing it from gaining weight. It's better to feed the plant with phosphorus and potassium.

The correct removal procedure

If you decide to prune your cabbage, you should take care to minimize stress on the plant and prevent any possible negative consequences of the procedure.

Rules for removing lower leaves:

1. For pruning you need to choose a dry day.
2. Leaves should not be torn off, but carefully cut off.
3. The cuts must be sprinkled with wood ash to prevent viruses and bacteria from penetrating into the plant tissue.
4. One leaf per week can be removed from the plant. The old cut must heal before removing the next one.

The number and health of leaves on a cabbage stem affects the yield and quality of the harvest, so they should only be removed when absolutely necessary. Following pruning recommendations allows you to remove the lower part of a cabbage plant with minimal loss, but it's impossible to avoid causing any damage to the harvest. The only time pruning is absolutely necessary is when rot has occurred, as the entire plant is at stake.