Tying up the outer leaves is not a required step in the growing process. As long as plants are healthy, they should produce a head regardless of whether they are tied or not.

That being said, binding the loose outer foliage can help to protect plants from strong sun and pests, and may result in tighter heads as well.

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Read on to learn more about why and how to tie up cabbages that you’re growing in the garden.

Is Tying Worth It?

There is some debate among gardeners as to whether tying up the outer leaves is worth the extra effort. Head formation is not dependent on binding the loose outer leaves.

If you find your plants are not forming heads, there are usually other causes, such as exposure to extreme temperatures, inadequate moisture, or a nutrient imbalance. Tying them tight won’t solve these problems.

Learn more about why cabbages may fail to form heads in this guide.

Nonetheless, there are a few reasons why this practice could still be beneficial.

First, it can help to keep pests such as slugs and snails out of your plants.

Using twine to secure the outer foliage can create a physical barrier that restricts pests’ access to the inner leaves. This can be a useful natural way to reduce pest problems.

Protecting the inner leaves with the outer ones can also shield them from the sun, keeping them from becoming discolored or damaged in intense sunlight.

It can also help to save space in the garden. Large outer leaves spread out wide, and take up a lot of space.

Binding them with garden twine or

plants gardening processing Cabbage SUN Heather Buckner