When Should You Harvest Cabbage?
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GardenSays
Cabbage plants are ready when heads firm to a squeeze — in Minneapolis, MN, typically Jun 13 – Jul 27.
- Ready when
- heads firm to a squeeze
- Days to maturity
- 60-90
- Est. first harvest
- Jun 13 – Jul 27
Ready when: heads firm to a squeeze — size varies with variety, fertility and spacing. Cut at the base; if you can't harvest a mature head yet, bend the stem to break some roots — it stops the head from splitting.
- Once harvest season starts, check weekly once heads form.
Do this this week
- 1.Watch for the sign: heads firm to a squeeze
- 2.Check weekly once heads form
- 3.Then: refrigerate; late crops hold in cool weather
Typical estimate · 1 verified source · Checked 2026-07-17 · How we decide
Why
On the calendar: planting on schedule in Minneapolis, MN puts first harvest around Jun 13 – Jul 27 (our estimate from the typical planting window plus 60-90 days to maturity). Weather, variety and care shift this by weeks — trust the sign above over the date.
Storage: refrigerate; late crops hold in cool weather.
- Days-to-maturity figures are averages from trial conditions — your season, variety and weather move them, which is why the visual readiness sign is the deciding test.
When this doesn't apply
- If you planted earlier or later than the typical window, shift the estimated dates by the same amount.
How this was calculated
- 1. Planting windowApr 14 – Apr 28Calculated result
Cabbage transplants on the same schedule the Planting calculator gives for Minneapolis, MN
- 2. Days to maturity60-90 daysSource guidance
60-90 days from transplant (UMD Extension — Growing Cabbage in a Home Garden)
- 3. Estimated first-harvest windowJun 13 – Jul 27GardenSays estimate
Planting window + days to maturity — an estimate; the readiness sign always wins
Data sources
- UMD Extension — Growing Cabbage in a Home Garden — Cabbage: 60-90 days from transplanting; harvest when heads become firm; bend stem to break part of the roots to prevent head-splitting if harvest is delayed. (checked 2026-07-17)
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