forward to cooler weather Harvest conditions are too warm for cabbage and rain is causing greasy/slippery field conditions. Farmers are looking forward to cooler weather conditions with temperatures around 35° F. A major objective of harvesting and storing cabbage is to get the heat out of the cabbage before and during its storage. Storage cabbage is kept at 32° to 34° F. Cabbage picked during November is optimal for storage since the head is much cooler due to the weather, consequently lasting much longer than cabbage harvested in warm temperature conditions. The harvest of cabbage is in full swing. With the recent rains, farmers are literally getting their feet wet cutting storage cabbage. Harvesting will continue through Thanksgiving. Usually, most cabbage farmers are done harvesting around December 5. Anytime after this date, there is a big risk of freezing weather that will damage the crop left in the field. The exact end of harvest depends on the weather. Here in western New York, harvesting of cabbage has gone as late as December 25 due to snowy conditions. When weather conditions promote a freezing of the cabbage heads, a condition called red heart occurs in the cabbage. The heart of the cabbage freezes. When temperatures get down to 20°F for 48 hours, or more, these conditions promote the freezing of cabbage and consequently creating a condition called red heart. Agricultural specialist Bob King expects that cabbage yields will be from average to just below average (27-30 tons per acre). Cabbage heads are somewhat smaller but of average density (weight). He expects more medium sized heads this year than in the past. The hot and dry summer kept disease to a minimum but encouraged moderate insect damage from aphids and thrips. New York state cabbage statistics Western New York cabbage statistics: Monroe County cabbage statistics: |
