How to Harvest Cabbage for the Best Taste and Texture Every Time Follow these steps for a perfectly crispy crop. In This Article View All In This Article Tools How to Harvest When to Harvest Storage Close Credit: Serhii Ivashchuk / Getty Images Key Points Harvesting cabbage at the right time and with proper technique ensures firm, flavorful heads and prevents waste from splitting.Use a sharp knife or garden shears to cut the cabbage cleanly, leaving outer leaves if you want a smaller second head to grow.Cabbage is ready when its head feels dense and firm, and it can stay fresh for up to two months if stored in a cool, dry, and unwashed condition. Cabbage is a versatile vegetable that's easy to grow in your garden; knowing how to harvest it properly can make or break your crop. Timing is everything, of course, but so is execution. A successful harvesting process can lead to an even more crispy, delicious crop. So where do you start? Thankfully, harvesting cabbage isn't too challenging, but it's important to know all of the steps before you begin. Here's how the experts recommend doing it. Quilenthia Wingfield-Accime, founder of Dearest Garden Niki Jabbour, founder of Savvy Gardening and the author of The Year-Round Vegetable Gardener 5 Types of Cabbage—and the Best Ways to Use Them Tools Make sure you have the right tools on hand before harvesting. Fortunately, all you'll need is a sharp knife. "You’ll want something sturdy enough to slice through the thick stem cleanly and to prevent damaging the head," says Quilenthia Wingfield-Accime, founder of Dearest Garden. You can also use garden shears or a serrated knife. How to Harvest Once you're ready, hold the head of the cabbage and use your knife or shears to cut through the stem, then remove the head. "You can cut the stem near the soil surface or you can cut it just below the head of the cabbage, leaving some of the outer leaves," says Niki Jabbour, founder of Savvy Gardening. "If there's enough time left in the growing season, the remaining stub will regrow into a smaller second cabbage head." Once you're finished, remove any damaged leaves and brush off the dirt. "Do this outside—sometimes I find little bugs hiding between those leaves," notes Wingfield-Accime. When to Harvest The biggest mistake people make when harvesting cabbage is getting the timing wrong. Too early and the head will be smaller, too late and the head will split or bolt. Typically, cabbage is ready to harvest 70 to 100 days after planting—though this timeframe depends on the variety. "It's ready when the head feels dense and firm to the touch and has filled out fully," says Wingfield-Accime. "If it still feels soft or loose, give it more time to mature." Another good rule of thumb is checking the size of the cabbage. "Miniature varieties are around 4 inches across when mature, but storage cabbages may be 10 to 12 inches wide at that stage," says Jabbour. Don't Miss How to Store Cabbage So It Stays Crisp for Weeks, According to Culinary Pros How To Eat Cabbage, According to Thomas Joseph Storage You can enjoy your cabbage right away, but you can also store it for later use. If you choose the latter, make sure to leave the outer leaves on the head. "This protects the head and reduces moisture loss," notes Jabbour. "Don't wash cabbages you intend to store." Store your cabbages in a cool, dry, and dark location, such as a crisper drawer or a root cellar. Make sure the environment isn't too chilly, though—the temperature should never fall below freezing. If you follow these steps, then your cabbage will last up to two months in storage. Explore more: Garden Vegetable Garden Ideas