Rotting Cabbages

[PyreneesPlot]

It is too late for this year, but does anyone know what might be causing the stems of my cabbages to rot?

This year every single one of my greyhound and golden acres summer cabbages (12 of each) have done the same thing - the head has reached about tennis ball sized and then just stopped growing. Over the next month or so each one has started to stink and then eventually the head has just fallen off the stem and been brown and mushy inside. This has happened once before to a single cabbage and there were white maggots inside, but there is no sign of that this time.

I've just noticed that one of the january king is going the same way

Sorry no photos as they have to be disposed of asap - the smell is that bad!!!

[WendyC]

Have they been attacked by cabbage root fly? Do you use cabbage collars?

[PyreneesPlot]

That's a thought, thanks.
No, not used collars as it has not been an issue before. The roots are fine, though, it is the junction between stem and head that is the problem. Perhaps we have a special French cabbage neck fly?!

[Jungle Jane]

Do you think it could be bacterial soft rot? That gives an unpleasant odour....
Bacterial soft rot

[Greenleaves]

There is a soil based fungal desease that causes black rot.....sorry cant remember the name

[PyreneesPlot]

Bacterial soft rot sounds like it, especially as it has happened in the two hottest years here. Thanks Jane and everyone Back to my stinky cabbage patch in the morning!

[WendyC]

That sounds awful. Too much cabbage in the compost bin can be a bit rank, so I can only imagine what you've got there.

[Jungle Jane]

I was reading that some plants can be host to the bacteria & not show any symptoms. Insects from fruit flies to snails feed & carry the bacteria to other plants. Sounds impossible to avoid,I suppose earlier to mature varieties of cabbage might help,but not in that area for 3 years! Wider spacing promotes more rapid drying of plants and soil. Make sure that soil fertility (particularly soil calcium) is optimal for the vegetables. Add calcium (e.g., bone meal) at planting as needed.
The bacteria overwinters within the plant tissues,insect hosts,or in the soil and lay dormant until the conditions are right again to reproduce. Is there something you can add to the soil to improve it or plant something like corn thats supposed to be less susceptible to the rot?