My cabbage....didn't.

[TheGrey]

A cabbage seed that I planted last year in the garden box decided to grow this year. I had no time to garden this year, so when I saw it sprout I was surprised, but left it alone to do its thing.

Which is what it did, I guess.

Please excuse the horrible photos, but I'm hoping that someone will be able to tell me why the cabbage grew like this, and what I can do to prevent it next year. I've never seen such a goofy-looking cabbage plant before.

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[ray1970]

Whatever color is the opposite of green is what color my thumb is so I?m clueless.

[rondog]

Covid.....

[Bailey Guns]

Is it only one plant? If so, does cabbage need other nearby plants to pollinate? My only guess....

[ChickNorris]

My thoughts are temp when it decided to germinate. Theres a few reasons cabbage won't form heads including insect damage (preventing the head formation) & soil conditions (excess nitrogen is one) but because it might have just been too hot for this variety.

Also curious what variety it is or was, or supposed to be. Could it have been an errant seed from the previous crop package? Might be why its schedule was off from the others & not necessarily environmental at all.

Ive had a few mutants over the years too in other plants. Same stock, grower, conditions... everything. End up with some bizarre little dude out of thousands who is different for no obvious reason.

Kind of fun, like a crested Saguaro. Still don't believe there's a widely accepted explanation for that behavior either.

[Edit to add] if you weren't watering regularly because of its volunteer status, that could be another reason.

[Great-Kazoo]

it went to seed. Our lettuce that wasn't picked in time, grew to 2-3' and looked like an angry triffid

[earplug]

Went to seed. Youi might have self planted cabbage next year. We have had spinach and lettuce return after it bolted and went to seed.

[TheGrey]

Thanks for everyone's input- it was likely a major combination of "all of the above."

I like GK's "angry triffid" phrase- that made me laugh!

I will relegate that box for only cabbage, and will provide much more gardener-like behavior next year. I'd just never seen a cabbage plant do something like that before.

[Wulf202]

Bolting can also be caused by high heat. Too much sun. Too little water.