Staking up cabbages

[Ruderunner]

Maybe this is common knowledge but I just may have figured out why I lost my cabbage harvest last year to rot.

The other morning, before going out of town, I noticed one of my cabbage had turned black. Uh oh. Today I went out into the garden and sure enough it was mush. The others looked ok except for one other. When I inspected that one, sure enough it was beginning to rot as well! Very depressing since these are the biggest cabbages I've grown.

I did notice during my inspection that some plants had water drain out of them. Hmm, standing water in the plants causing the rot? Sounds reasonable. So I staked my plants to make sure the stem is at the bottom.

 

[Meadowlark]

Sounds like black rot cabbage from the description (bacterial pathogen, Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris).

Black Rot of Cabbage

Black rot is a bacterial disease that affects crucifers (vegetables in the cabbage family). The bacterial pathogen, Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris, is particularly damaging to cabbage and cauliflower, but turnip, rutabaga, collard, kohlrabi, and Chinese cabbage are also susceptible...

hortnews.extension.iastate.edu

Rotation, removal of diseased plants, and no overhead watering are keys to control.

 

[Ruderunner]

Well, can't do much about the rain. I'm using soaker hoses this year.

Plants are in a different plot than last years attempt.

Just read your link and the symptoms don't match. No black rings in the stem, no blackening of the outer leaves. The second cabbage in question was harvested and after dissection was healthy other than the rot on one side and only a couple leaves deep.