Why Did My Plant’s Leaves Turn White?

With much enthusiasm, I recently transplanted young cabbage plants into my garden. I took great care in doing so, excited by the prospect of a cabbage harvest. Visions of enormous round cabbage heads danced in my head, while thoughts of sautéed cabbage tickled my appetite! I love growing AND eating cabbage.

So, it came as a great shock to me when I ventured out to my garden this morning and discovered some of the leaves of my plant had turned white. Limp, pale and utterly sickly looking, I was aghast. What happened??

Quickly I scoured my resources for answers and came upon a very simple one.

Sun scald

Also known as sun scorch. Basically, it means my tender transplants were not ready for a direct blow from the Central Florida sun. Not even in late September. I usually cover my tender transplants with a screen contraption, but didn’t do so this time. Thought I could “wing it.” Apparently not. The young plants were accustomed to greenhouse conditions, and needed a more gentle transition into direct sunlight. Lesson learned.

Peering down the bed of plants, my shoulders sagged. How many did I lose?

Several. And worse, I discovered something had been digging in my garden overnight. By the looks of this hole, I’d say it was in search of grubs between my broccoli plants.

But did it have to rip the entire plant from its bed in the middle of the night and toss it aside like unused bed sheet?

Yes. That cabbage plant to the lower right is no longer tucked safely in its hole. Ugh. Varmints have no manners or courtesy whatsoever. The good news: I can replant the plant. It will survive. So will my sun scorched cabbage plants. So long as there is one green leaf left, they can survive. Next time I won’t skip the screen.