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Cabbage problem #923043

Asked December 22, 2025, 5:43 PM EST

Hello, Attached is what is happening to my Cabbages I grow in greenhouse. I did not see any insects. Please let me know what the problem is.

Montgomery County Maryland

Expert Response

Hi,

This looks like edema caused by environmental factors such as excessive soil moisture and reduced transpiration due to cool nights and cloudy days.

This can be a common problem in small greenhouses when cabbage family crops are grown over the winter months.

The cabbage leaves are edible regardless of their appearance.

You can read more about edema here:
https://extension.usu.edu/planthealth/ipm/notes_ag/veg-edema

Emily

Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied December 23, 2025, 10:32 AM EST

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This work is supported in part by New Technologies for Ag Extension grant no. 2020-41595-30123 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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