White mold on cabbages?

Question: Hello! It is my first time growing Napa cabbages and I’ve been so thrilled with how they’ve been looking. However, yesterday I discovered they are (rotting?) mostly from inside of the head out. The leaves are spongy, brown, and white. Most of the cabbages look beautiful until you feel back a few of the top leaves on the forming head. The one I discovered yesterday is decaying from the outside in and I’m devastated. I’m hoping to know what is happening to my poor cabbages and if there is a way I can salvage what’s left.

responder: Sarah Bronstein  Replied July 11, 2023, 1:37 AM EDT
response: Hi Heather, I feel you pain - I have had this exact same problem. Fall cabbages and cauliflower in my garden have developed soft wet looking spots that then turned to brown rot. My research suggests that it is bacterial soft rot. The bacteria is harbored in poorly drained soil, and then enters the plant tissue through wounds caused by hail, insect damage, or human-caused wounds from tools.  Unfortunately, once infected, there is no remedy. I would recommend harvesting now and salvaging what you can of the cabbage heads, even if they are small. Otherwise, the disease will continue to progress. Do not compost the remains of infected plants. The key to prevention is to avoid overwatering and overcrowding of plants, to encourage air circulation and minimize excess moisture. That won't help you this time around, but perhaps you can reduce your watering practices on your next growing cycle. It's time to plant fall crops about now, so perhaps you can give nappa cabbage another go this year with better results. If you do, I would recommend choosing a different spot in your garden if possible, just to avoid the bacteria that may still be present in the soil. For further reading, here is a useful article from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension on bacterial soft rot: https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/bacterial-soft-rot/ Good luck! Sarah Bronstein Master Gardener, 2022

responder: The Question Asker Replied July 11, 2023, 11:12 AM EDT
response: Thank you so much! I only have a small garden plot and more than likely over crowded the cabbages and gave them too much love with watering. I ended up pulling them up for fear the rot would spread to my other plants. I don’t have room this year, but I will definitely try again next year and take your advice. How do I make sure I have well-drained soil for my future gardens? I added miracle grow soil to the soil already in the raised bed when I first planted the garden, but I’m worried it isn’t draining enough for my others plants, either. Thank you! Heather Hodel On Jul 10, 2023, at 10:37 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:﻿

responder: Sarah Bronstein  Replied July 14, 2023, 1:26 AM EDT
response: Heather, Great question. Here are a few key tricks that can help with building up healthy soil: -Don't work the soil when it's wet. When you do, minimize disturbance. Try to wait until the soil crumbles in your fingers before planting in the spring. Planting or tilling wet soil causes compaction. Try to limit all disturbances to the soil if you can - the more the soil is turned and mixed, the more potential destruction there is to the worm tunnels and root structures that help build naturally well-draining soil. -Add compost! A top-dressing of organic matter helps build layering that mimics natural soils. No need to turn it in - just layer a thick 4 inches of compost on top of the bed in the spring, then plant directly into it. -Plant a cover crop. Even with a small space you can still use cover crops to help fix nitrogen in your soil and build good structure. I love buckwheat - it is quick-growing, it can be sown around new plants, and it turns the soil at it's base the texture and color of coffee grounds. If you try this, cut it down once it begins to flower or compete with the plants around it. Leave the roots in place if you can - they will break down, leaving tunnels for drainage in your soil. Good luck and happy gardening! -Sarah

responder: The Question Asker Replied July 14, 2023, 2:09 PM EDT
response: Thank you so much!! This will be really helpful for future cabbages and pants. Happy gardening, Heather Hodel On Jul 13, 2023, at 10:26 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:﻿