cabbage flowering - problem?

[splendor77]

a few red cabbages survived the new jersey winter and are already growing fast. they had long shoots with buds which hadn't flowered yet, which I cut off. will I still be able to get cabbage heads?

[OmManiPadmiOmlet]

I don't see why not. :-) It's not like they turn toxic or anything, but they may be a bit bitter. Break off a little bit of leaf and try it raw to see.

I have the same problem with basil. I cut off the flower buds so I can continue to harvest it.

[STEPHEN PEEK]

[Powerless Agronomist]

First time to hear for this Idea.. Interesting.. Better leave to take the seed to see what can come up next year from those seed.

[splendor77]

stephen, does that mean that I shouldn't have cut off the seed stems?

[simy1]

only if you need the seeds and don't need the space. Every spring I am tempted to wait for kale seeds, so I don't have to buy a packet this year. But that means leaving the patch unused into July, and most of the time it is better to buy seeds and replant.

[STEPHEN PEEK]

[Steve]

This discussion makes me wonder how edible (or not) cabbage seed pods would turn out to be? Pods from some cabbage relatives aren't too bad.

steve

[splendor77]

turns out the leaves are pretty tasty, even as the seed 'n flower shoots go sky-high...