Can You Eat Cabbage Seedlings

In the early part of cabbage growing stages, the head consists of loosely wrapped leaves, and they become more compact as the head matures. Tiny cabbage heads can be harvested and eaten any time after they reach the desired size. Many people enjoy using young cabbage in stir-fry dishes and slaw.

Can you eat cabbage leaves before the head forms?

Once a cabbage plant bolts, a head will not form — but you can still eat the leaves! Harvest them as soon as possible, or they’ll start to taste bitter.

Can you eat the outside leaves of a cabbage?

In fact, as the blogger and amateur gardener behind Where are the Chickens explains, these leaves are definitely edible even if they don’t look like the cabbage you know and love. They may be a bit tough and even have a spiky texture to them, but that’s no reason to toss all of your hard work into the compost heap.