Cabbage is a leafy vegetable typically cultivated as an annual crop. This member of the mustard family is grown specifically for its large, dense structure of tightly wrapped leaves, known as the head. The question of how many heads of cabbage a plant yields has a simple answer: generally, one usable head is harvested per plant. This single-head yield is the standard expectation for most common varieties, though the final size and density can vary widely depending on the growing environment.
The Standard Yield Rule: One Head Per Plant
The typical cabbage plant is cultivated to concentrate its energy into developing a single, large, firm head. This head is essentially a compressed terminal bud where leaves wrap inward to create a dense sphere or cone. Commercial and traditional growing practices focus on optimizing conditions to produce this one marketable structure. The goal is to maximize the size and density of the single apical bud, not to encourage multiple, smaller growths.
When grown under optimal conditions, a single cabbage head will typically weigh between 2 and 8 pounds. Early-maturing varieties tend to produce smaller heads, while late-maturing varieties often result in much larger, heavier structures. This cultivation model ensures a uniform, dense product suitable for storage, shipping, and processing, such as making sauerkraut. The plant’s life cycle is intentionally cut short during its first year of vegetative growth to capture this single yield before the plant attempts to flower.
Exceptions to the Single Head Rule
While the single, large head is the standard, several exceptions allow for a greater number of structures to be harvested from one plant. One widely practiced technique is the “cut-and-come-again” method, which involves intentionally harvesting the main head high on the stem. Removing the primary head eliminates the inhibitory hormone that suppresses growth in the plant’s side buds.
This removal encourages the lateral buds to develop into secondary heads. These subsequent growths are smaller and looser than the original head, often reaching the size of a baseball or softball. A single decapitated plant can produce two to four of these smaller heads, providing an additional yield of baby cabbages later in the season. For some gardeners, the total mass from these secondary heads can equal or surpass the weight of the initial single harvest.
Specific varieties are also bred to naturally deviate from the single-head model, yielding multiple harvests or structures. Certain loose-leaf types, such as some Savoy cultivars and Chinese cabbages, often produce looser or multiple, less-dense structures that are harvested continuously. Related plants, like Brussels sprouts, have been specifically selected to produce dozens of small, condensed buds along the stem rather than one large head.
Factors Influencing Head Size and Quality
Assuming a plant is producing its single expected head, its final size, density, and quality depend on environmental and nutritional inputs. Cabbage plants require consistent access to nutrients, specifically high levels of nitrogen and potassium, to support the massive vegetative growth that fuels the developing head. Nitrogen is important during the early stages of growth and head formation, as it promotes the development of large, photosynthetically active leaves.
Consistent water is necessary to prevent the head from splitting or prematurely bolting. A sudden influx of water after a dry spell can cause the inner leaves to expand faster than the outer ones can accommodate, leading to a cracked head. Adequate spacing between plants is also important, as it allows each plant’s leaves to capture maximum sunlight and energy, translating to a heavier, denser final head.
Temperature control influences the success of the harvest. Cabbage is a cool-season crop, and optimal head growth occurs between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Exposure to extended periods of excessive heat, especially after a cool period, can trigger the plant to bolt, diverting energy from head formation into producing a flower stalk. This results in zero usable yield. Conversely, a period of cold temperatures is needed for proper heading, ensuring the plant focuses on dense leaf production rather than flowering.