Vegetable year 2021 was characterized by above-average rainfall, from which cabbage vegetables benefited in particular. For lettuce cultivation, on the other hand, conditions were more difficult due to the persistent wetness. According to the Baden-Württemberg Statistical Office, around 323,800 metric tons (t) of vegetables were harvested on 11,900 hectares (ha) in 2021. Thus, the harvest volume exceeded both the previous year 2020 and the average of the 6-year average (+5%) of the years 2015 to 2020.
Sufficient 
moisture supply enabled a total of around 76,700 t (+13% compared to 2020) to be harvested across all cabbage varieties in 2021, with white cabbage (49,000 t) and red cabbage (12,100 t) in particular contributing to the good result. The area under cultivation remained virtually unchanged at 1,400 ha, with white cabbage (590 ha), red cabbage (200 ha) and broccoli (170 ha) the main crops.
Despite a downward trend, asparagus remained the most important outdoor crop, accounting for 21% of the vegetable area. Among the 2,470 ha, 2,160 ha were productive plants, and some 10,100 t of asparagus were harvested in 2021. This was significantly more than in 2020, with an increase of 8%, but was below the multi-year average.
Sweet corn (1,100 ha), which is part of the fruiting vegetables (2 200 ha), saw a significant increase in area in 2021. With an above-average yield of 9.3 t/ha, a yield of 10,300 t was achieved. There was a slight reduction in cultivation of zucchini (210 ha) and edible pumpkins (760 ha).
Only 390 ha or 3% of the vegetable area is made up of protected cultivation, in foil tunnels and greenhouses. However, more intensive cultivation produces 10% of the total vegetable crop. Tomatoes (13,000 t) and cucumbers (9,700 t) held the largest share, cultivated on 72 ha and 53 ha, respectively. Lettuces grew on a total of 186 ha.
In 2021, about 29,400 t of vegetables were produced in the open air according to organic, on 1,720 ha. For under glass cultivation this was 117 ha. In the open field, the emphasis was on carrots and carrots (285 ha), lettuces (206 ha) and edible pumpkins (216 ha). Under glass, lettuces (52 ha) and tomatoes (22 ha) were cultivated.
Source: statistik-bw.de