Harvest guide
When to Harvest Cabbage (Signs It's Ready)
Cabbage is ready about 70 to 100 days after transplanting, when the head feels firm and solid as you squeeze it and has reached full size for the variety. Cut it before it splits.
Days to maturity
70–100days
Ready when
Firm head that resists squeezing
The short answer
Cabbage is ready about 70 to 100 days after transplanting, when the head feels firm and solid as you squeeze it and has reached full size for the variety. Cut it once it firms up. Leaving a mature head in warm, wet weather makes it split. Harvest before a hard freeze.
The window above comes from the days-to-maturity range for cabbage. The rest of this guide is how to read the squeeze test, cut the head clean, stop it splitting, and keep it for months.
Days to maturity by type
The "right day" depends on the variety. Early and green types finish fast. Storage, red, and savoy types take longer and hold better.
Use these as windows, not deadlines. Iowa State Extension puts early cultivars near 60 to 65 days and late cultivars at 100+ days, and University of Minnesota Extension gives an overall 60 to 100 day range after transplanting.
| Cabbage type | Days to maturity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Early / green | 60–70 | Smaller, looser heads, eat fresh and soon |
| Storage / late | 90–100+ | Dense heads, best for the cellar |
| Red | 70–100 | Firms up like green cabbage, holds color in storage |
| Savoy | 80–90 | Crinkled leaves, tender, keeps only a few days fresh |
Direct-seeded plants run up to three weeks longer than transplants, so add time if you sowed in place.
How to tell it's ready
The calendar gets you close. The squeeze tells you the truth.
Check three things before you cut:
- Firm to the squeeze. Press the head with your hand. It should feel firm and solid, not soft or loose. Iowa State Extension says to pick mature heads when they are solid and heavy.
- Full size. The head should look full-sized for the variety. Harvest can begin once a head is firm and about the size of a softball, but most varieties bulk up well past that.
- Before it splits. Once a head reaches mature size, it can split. Illinois Extension notes that once heads reach mature size, there is a risk they will split before harvest. A firm, full head that is starting to feel tight is telling you to cut now.
If the head still gives under your hand, leave it a few more days and check again.
How to harvest cabbage
Cut, do not pull. The head comes off clean with a knife and the stump can keep working for you.
- Cut at the base. Slice through the stem just below the head with a sharp knife. Cut as close to the underside of the head as you can.
- Leave the outer leaves. Leave the loose outer wrapper leaves and the stump in the ground. Illinois Extension describes cutting above the outer leaves so the plant can keep going.
- Trim and carry. Pull off any damaged outer leaves once you are at the sink. Keep the tight inner head whole for storage.
Leave the stump with a few leaves on it and you often get a bonus. Small secondary heads sprout from the cut stem. Illinois Extension says these grow to about 2 to 4 inches across and should be picked when firm.
Stop it splitting, then store it cold
A firm head left too long in wet weather splits open. The fix is to slow the water going in.
Splitting is caused by a rush of water into a head that has already firmed up. Iowa State Extension says heavy rain or irrigation in the days before harvest drives the pressure that splits the head.
To buy time on a mature head, slow the roots. Illinois Extension says to twist the head a quarter turn or shear one side of the roots with a spade, which cuts water flow into the head. Iowa State describes the same move as pulling the plant upward and gently twisting to break some roots. Both work, but they stress the plant, so harvest within a few days after.
Once cut, store cold and humid. Iowa State holds cabbage at about 32°F and 95 to 100 percent humidity for 3 to 4 months, the kind of conditions a root cellar gives. UMN Extension notes the same range and adds that those conditions are colder and moister than a refrigerator, where a head in a perforated bag holds for roughly two to four weeks.
Common mistake
Two timing errors spoil a cabbage crop. Leaving a firm head too long in warm, wet weather lets water pressure split it wide open. Once heads reach mature size, Illinois Extension warns they can split before harvest, so cut firm heads promptly. The flip side is harvesting too early. A soft, loose head that gives under your hand has not filled in. Wait for solid and heavy.
Pro tip
Want a second crop from the same plant? After you cut the main head, score a shallow X about 1/4 inch deep into the top of the stump and leave a few outer leaves attached. Small secondary heads sprout from the cut. Illinois Extension says they reach about 2 to 4 inches across and should be picked when firm. More sprouts mean smaller heads, so thin them if you want a couple of decent ones.
Get the spacing right next year
Most cabbage problems start at transplanting. Crowded plants compete for water and light, so heads stay small and loose and never firm up clean. Plants with room size up evenly and tell you clearly when they are solid.
The fix is spacing. Set cabbage about 12 to 18 inches apart in the row so each head has room to fill. The plant spacing chart has the full crop list, and the Plant Spacing Calculator shows how many fit your bed.
Try it — Plant Spacing Calculator
Full calculatorExtra to cover losses (10% is typical).
You can plant
32plants
- Per row
- 8
- Rows
- 4
- Buy (incl. spare)
- 36 plants
Cabbage is one head crop in a cool-season patch. The same firm-head squeeze test guides when to harvest broccoli, and the cold-and-humid storage rule carries straight over to when to harvest carrots.
Your next step
Cabbage is ready when the head feels firm and solid under your hand and has reached full size, somewhere in the 70 to 100 day window. Cut it at the base, leave the stump for a second crop, and store the head cold and humid. Do not let a firm head sit in wet weather, or it splits.
Planning the next bed? Open the Plant Spacing Calculator and set your cabbage at 12 to 18 inches so every head firms up clean.
Common questions
How do I know when cabbage is ready to pick?
Squeeze the head. A ready cabbage feels firm and solid, not loose or soft, and it has reached full size for the variety. Iowa State Extension says harvest can begin once heads are firm and about the size of a softball, and to pick mature heads when they are solid and heavy. If the head still gives under your hand, leave it a few more days.
How many days does cabbage take to mature?
Most cabbage matures 60 to 100 days after transplanting, with the common home-garden window landing around 70 to 100 days. Iowa State Extension puts early cultivars near 60 to 65 days and late cultivars at 100 or more. University of Minnesota Extension gives an overall 60 to 100 day range. Use your seed packet's day count as the start of the window, not the deadline.
Why is my cabbage splitting, and how do I stop it?
Splitting comes from a rush of water into a head that has already firmed up, often after heavy rain. Illinois Extension says to twist the head a quarter turn or shear one side of the roots with a spade, which cuts water flow into the head. Both buy you time, but harvest within a few days after doing either.
Will cabbage grow a second head after I cut it?
Often, yes. If you cut the main head and leave the stump with a few outer leaves in the ground, small secondary heads sprout from it. Illinois Extension says these grow to about 2 to 4 inches across and should be picked when firm. Cut a shallow X in the top of the stump to encourage them.
How long does harvested cabbage keep?
Cold and humid, cabbage keeps for months. Iowa State Extension stores it at about 32°F with 95 to 100 percent humidity for 3 to 4 months, the kind of conditions a root cellar gives. A refrigerator is colder and drier than that, so a whole head in a perforated bag holds for roughly two to four weeks.
Sources
Agronomic claims in this guide are checked against these primary sources.
- Growing cabbage in home gardens — University of Minnesota Extension
- Cabbage — University of Illinois Extension
- Growing Cabbage in the Home Garden — Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
- When should I harvest cabbage? — Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
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