Cabbage plants turn firm , round heads surrounded by large , informal out foliage .

tie up the outer leaf is not a required stair in the growing process . As long as plants are healthy , they should produce a head disregarding of whether they are tied or not .

That being said , tie up the loose outer foliage can facilitate to protect works from impregnable sun and pests , and may result in tighter heads as well .

A close up horizontal image of a red cabbage growing in the garden.

Photo by Heather Buckner.

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Read on to watch more about why and how to tie up pelf that you ’re growing in the garden .

What You’ll Learn

Is Tying Worth It?

There is some argument among gardeners as to whether tie up the outer leaves is worth the extra effort . Head formation is not dependent on binding the sluttish outer leaves .

If you witness your works are not forming heads , there are ordinarily other causes , such as exposure to extreme temperature , inadequate moisture , or a nutrient imbalance . Tying them tight wo n’t solve these problems .

find out more about whycabbages may give way to form head in this usher .

A close up vertical image of a purple cabbage plant with the outer leaves tied up around the developing head.

Nonetheless , there are a few reason why this recitation could still be beneficial .

First , it can help oneself to keep pests such asslugs and snailsout of your plants .

Using twine to secure the outer foliage can create a physical roadblock that restricts pests ’ access to the inner leaves . This can be a useful instinctive fashion to concentrate pesterer problems .

A close up horizontal image of a purple cabbage plant with a tight developing head and large outer leaves.

protect the inner leaves with the outer ones can also shield them from the Sunday , keeping them from becoming discolor or damaged in intense sunlight .

It can also help to save space in the garden . Large outer leaves spread out wide , and take up a lot of space .

tie them with garden string or string can cater more room between plants , which could be particularly useful if you aregardening in a small space .

A close up horizontal image of two purple cabbages growing in the garden with large outer foliage and small tight heads.

Some assortment , such asnapa cultivars , are often tied to produce tighter head with softer , whiter foliage , a mental process referred to as “ blanch . ”

The idea is to protect the inner foliage from promiscuous exposure , keep them from turning yellow or gullible and drop off flavor .

There is no true consensus on whether this actually makes a difference or not in terms of the wellness of the plant , tightness of the heads , or tang development .

A close up horizontal image of a developing cabbage head with lots of large foliage surrounding it.

Many gardeners swear by this process , while others say it is n’t necessary .

What should you do ? Try draw a few plants and decide for yourself !

How To Tie Up Cabbages

If you decide to try this method acting , do so just before matureness when the mind is about softball size , and has started to tauten up .

While holding the inner parting together , wrap the outer ones upward so they form a ball around the promontory .

With the leaf tip hold together , wrap soft garden string around them a duo of inch below the steer , taking upkeep to tighten the string enough that they are hold in place , but not so much that they tear .

A close up horizontal image of cabbage leaves tied up around the developing head pictured on a soft focus background.

splice a loose knot that can be untie well when you are quick to remove the twine for harvest .

An Easy Garden Experiment

Though bind up the foliation is n’t essential , it can be helpful in certain situations . But do n’t just take my word for it .

This agile and easy appendage make for an splendid garden experiment . essay tying up a few cabbages this season , and adjudicate what you believe !

And for more helpful information to grow your bestcabbagecrop yet , read these guide next :

exposure by Heather Buckner © require the Experts , LLC . ALL right RESERVED.See our TOSfor more item . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock .

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