In biology, the BBCH-scale for leafy vegetables forming heads describes the phenological development of leafy vegetables forming heads, such as cabbage, chinese cabbage, lettuce and endive, using the BBCH-scale.
The phenological growth stages and BBCH-identification keys of leafy vegetables forming heads are:
| Growth stage | Code | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0: Germination | 00 | Dry seed |
| 01 | Beginning of seed imbibition | |
| 03 | Seed imbibition complete | |
| 05 | Radicle emerged from seed | |
| 07 | Hypocotyl with cotyledons breaking through seed coat | |
| 09 | Emergence: cotyledons break through soil surface | |
| 1: Leaf development (Main shoot) | 10 | Cotyledons completely unfolded; growing point or true leaf initial visible |
| 11 | First true leaf unfolded | |
| 12 | 2nd true leaf unfolded | |
| 13 | 3rd true leaf unfolded | |
| 1 . | Stages continuous till ... | |
| 19 | 9 or more true leaves unfolded | |
| 4: Development of harvestable vegetative plant parts | 41 | Heads begin to form: the two youngest leaves do not unfold |
| 42 | 20% of the expected head size reached | |
| 43 | 30% of the expected head size reached | |
| 44 | 40% of the expected head size reached | |
| 45 | 50% of the expected head size reached | |
| 46 | 60% of the expected head size reached | |
| 47 | 70% of the expected head size reached | |
| 48 | 80% of the expected head size reached | |
| 49 | Typical size, form and firmness of heads reached | |
| 5: Inflorescence emergence | 51 | Main shoot inside head begins to elongate |
| 53 | 30% of the expected height of the main shoot reached | |
| 55 | First individual flowers of main inflorescence visible (still closed) | |
| 57 | First individual flowers of secondary inflorescences visible (still closed) | |
| 59 | First flower petals visible; flowers still closed | |
| 6: Flowering | 60 | First flowers open (sporadically) |
| 61 | Beginning of flowering: 10% of flowers open | |
| 62 | 20% of flowers open | |
| 63 | 30% of flowers open | |
| 64 | 40% of flowers open | |
| 65 | Full flowering: 50% of flowers open | |
| 67 | Flowering finishing: majority of petals fallen or dry | |
| 69 | End of flowering | |
| 7: Development of fruit | 71 | First fruits formed |
| 72 | 20% of fruits have reached typical size | |
| 73 | 30% of fruits have reached typical size | |
| 74 | 40% of fruits have reached typical size | |
| 75 | 50% of fruits have reached typical size | |
| 76 | 60% of fruits have reached typical size | |
| 77 | 70% of fruits have reached typical size | |
| 78 | 80% of fruits have reached typical size | |
| 79 | Fruits have reached typical size | |
| 8: Ripening of fruit and seed | 81 | Beginning of ripening: 10% of fruits ripe, or 10% of seeds of typical colour, dry and hard |
| 82 | 20% of fruits ripe, or 20% of seeds of typical colour, dry and hard | |
| 83 | 30% of fruits ripe, or 30% of seeds of typical colour, dry and hard | |
| 84 | 40% of fruits ripe, or 40% of seeds of typical colour, dry and hard | |
| 85 | 50% of the fruits ripe, or 50% of seeds of typical colour, dry and hard | |
| 86 | 60% of fruits ripe, or 60% of seeds of typical colour, dry and hard | |
| 87 | 70% of fruits ripe, or 70% of seeds of typical colour, dry and hard | |
| 88 | 80% of fruits ripe, or 80% of seeds of typical colour, dry and hard | |
| 89 | Fully ripe: seeds on the whole plant of typical colour and hard | |
| 9: Senescence | 92 | Leaves and shoots beginning to discolour |
| 95 | 50% of leaves yellow or dead | |
| 97 | Plants dead | |
| 99 | Harvested product (seeds) |