Why is my old cabbage sprouting new cabbages?

March 17, 2020 8:45 PM

Last month I bought a cabbage at the grocery store. Life happened and I didn’t use it. Now it’s sprouting baby cabbages. Why, and what should I do besides devour them?

Usually when I buy a cabbage, I immediately cut it up and ferment it, so I don’t know if this is normal. ThIs aging cabbage is growing a bunch of smaller cabbages. I’ve just been letting it grow, for science, and nibbling a leaf occasionally. But if there’s a way to put these in the ground (I don’t see roots) and leverage six to eight delicious cabbages from this neglected vegetable, please tell me how!

posted by centrifugal to Home & Garden (5 answers total)

Best answer: I would try dividing the separate growths, leaving as much of the base as possible, and putting each chunk of base in just a little bit of water, changing every day until they develop roots. They'll regrow individual leaves in water but if you want to try getting it to head, you can also put them in a container or in the ground with some compost.
posted by notquitemaryann at 10:29 PM on March 17, 2020 [2 favorites]

This does seem like an especially good time to try out regrowing vegetables--I have green onions, lettuce, and celery going at the moment, with plans for more.
posted by notquitemaryann at 10:32 PM on March 17, 2020 [4 favorites]

I've seen that happen in the garden after cutting off the head. I googled it and sure enough it's a good thing that allows a second harvest in some areas. In your case it looks like the original cabbage bolted and is using the dead part to fertilize the new growth.
posted by CathyG at 11:22 PM on March 17, 2020 [1 favorite]

Best answer: This happened to me several weeks ago and I cut the two apart and put them in a bowl with a lot of water. They root fast and then grow like wild into a tall, spindley plants and then they flower. It’s been fun to watch
posted by quince at 12:42 AM on March 18, 2020 [2 favorites]

I swear I think veggies can sense spring. My garlic was all sprouting in the fridge and I only bought it a couple weeks ago.
posted by The otter lady at 6:22 PM on March 18, 2020 [2 favorites]