The early cultivars of cabbage take 60-80 days, medium 80-100 days and late maturing ones 100-130 days for harvesting after transplanting. Solidity and firmness of head are the usual maturity characteristics used.

Harvesting   of cabbage is done when the heads reach marketable size. Head colour turns a lighter shade of green when full development is attained.

In some cultivars, the heads start cracking soon after the maturity.  In such cases, the quality of head deteriorates fast, if harvesting is delayed.  Hence, harvesting should be done at right stage for getting good quality head.

The heads are cut with knife with some wrapper leaves. The harvested heads are marketed at the earliest.