Kale is supposed to be harvested after the first frost, but what about white cabbage? Does it also taste better after the first frost and is it hardy at all? Learn more about cabbage and its relationship to frost here.
Many types of white cabbage are frost-resistant
White cabbage is not kale
Kale tends to taste bitter if it's harvested before it's been exposed to some cold weather. This is due to the high starch content and low sugar content. When it gets cold around it, it shuts down starch production but continues to produce sugar, making it taste less bitter and sweeter. This does not apply to the white cabbage. White cabbage does not taste bitter either way and therefore does not have to be harvested before the frost.
Is cabbage hardy?
Whether white cabbage is hardy or not depends on the variety. Some types of white cabbage, the so-called autumn white cabbage, are not planted out until autumn, remain in the bed over the winter and are harvested in the following spring. To protect it from severe frost, you should put a few sprigs over your white cabbage plants.
Early white cabbage varieties, on the other hand, are not always hardy and should therefore be harvested before the onset of winter. In general, it should be noted that white cabbage should never be harvested during frost.
Plant cabbage only after the frost
As with all types of vegetables, the same applies to white cabbage: do not plant the white cabbage plants outdoors until frost is definitely no longer to be expected. The ice saints in mid-May apply here as a guideline. After this date you can also sow your white cabbage directly into the bed.
Freeze cabbage
White cabbage can be frozen without any problems, raw, blanched or ready-made. To do this, clean your cabbage thoroughly, cut it into strips or grate it and blanch it briefly in hot water. This reduces the volume. Allow your cabbage to cool, then place in a freezer bag or other airtight container. Here you can find other storage options for your white cabbage.
tips
This overview tells you when to sow and harvest which white cabbage variety.