Post by Ismail AbdulAzeez on Feb 20, 2021 20:22:06 GMT 1
Cabbage is a hardy, leafy vegetable full of vitamins that grow well in fertile and well-drained soils. It originated in Europe around 1000BC and today can be found around the world. The increasing demand for vegetables has helped the growing popularity of this crop.
To have a successful cabbage farm, you must understand the following:
Variety Selection
Numerous varieties of cabbages are available in the market. Several factors should be put in mind in selecting appropriate varieties. Yield is important to every grower. However, it should not be the sole factor determining variety. Disease resistance or tolerance is important in many of these crops and should be critically examined. Buyer preference and market acceptability are also important factors to be considered. Finally, the variety should be adapted to the area where it is to be planted. Some common varieties are Green cabbage, Red cabbage and Savoy cabbage.
Climatic requirements for planting
Temperature: Cabbage grows best in a relatively moist and humid climate. Leaves are affected and the quality of the head is impaired in drier temperatures. Yield and quality are poor in rainy season and it is also difficult to control insect pests. The optimum temperatures for growth and development are from 18 °C to 20 °C.
Cabbage can adapt to a wide variety of climatic conditions and can be grown throughout the year in most regions.
Rainfall: The water requirement for cabbage is between 380 to 500 mm per crop, depending on the climate and length of growing season. The usage of water increases during the growing period.
Soil Management
Plants depend on the soil for support, nutrients and water. The degree to which the soil adequately provides these factors depends upon topography, soil type, soil structure and soil fertility. Under cultivated conditions, soil and fertilizer management are two key factors that influence plant growth and yield. Tillage is a general term for any operation that disrupts and or moves the soil, typically within 10 to 12 inches of the soil surface. Land preparation sometimes involves tillage operations that help loosen, pulverize the soil and make it more conducive to plant establishment and root growth. Growth of cabbage is influenced (and in many cases is limited) by the soil profile. Hard pans, clay pans and compacted soil interfere and restrict root growth. This, in turn, reduces nutrient and water uptake, limits plant growth and reduces yields. Although cabbage is shallow-rooted, under favorable conditions and in properly prepared soil, roots will grow to a depth of 18 to 24 inches. Cabbage may be planted or transplanted on flat or raised beds. A raised bed will warm up more quickly and enhance earlier growth of the crop. Cabbage does poorly in excessively wet soils.
Raised beds facilitate drainage and helps to prevent “wet feet” in low or poorly drained soils. However, cabbage planted on raised beds may require more irrigation during drought conditions. Cabbage needs well-drained, fertile and moist soil with rich organic matter.
Planting
Cabbage may be planted by direct-seeding or transplanting of seedlings. If direct seeding is to be used, about 2 kg of seed per hectare may be required. Seedlings should be transplanted once they have reached the desired size and only well- hardened, young, stocky plants should be chosen. Transplanting is done on moist
soil. The soil around the roots should be firmed and irrigated as soon as possible after the seedlings are set. In wet areas, cabbage should be grown on raised beds or ridges to reduce water-logging, stem or root rot diseases.
Irrigation
Cabbage should be irrigated immediately after sowing or transplanting. Irrigation should be applied at intervals of ten to twelve days in heavy soils or eight days in light soils and the schedule should be followed until the heads are fully developed and firm. Young plants should be well irrigated to enhance vegetative growth before forming heads. Excess moisture when the heads have formed may cause crack.
Fertilizer
Recommendations based on soil tests result in the most effective fertilizer management program. However, recommendations can be accurate only if valid soil sampling procedures are used to collect the samples submitted for analysis.
To be beneficial, the soil sample must represent the field from which it was taken. Improperly collected, compiled or labeled soil samples are of dubious benefit and may even be detrimental. Cabbage requires supplemental fertilizer in the form of manure or compost, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Cabbage requires about 200 to 250 kg of nitrogen per hectare. Nitrogen is supplied in split applications, where 50 % to 66 % is broadcast and ploughed in just before planting. Cabbage also requires micronutrients for proper growth and development. The crop has a high requirement of calcium and deficiencies of this nutrient may occur on acid soils, on soils with very high potassium or on very dry soils. Cabbage is very susceptible to molybdenum deficiency.
Weed Control
Weeds are controlled mechanically or by hand as well as chemically through the application of herbicides. The first weed control should be done two to three weeks after transplanting.
Cabbage Disease Management
Cabbage is susceptible to a number of diseases that may seriously injure or even destroy the crop. Some diseases may cause minor spotting, but because the leaves are consumed, the quality may be reduced below market standards.
Prevention is the key to controlling diseases affecting cabbage. Some of the diseases can be controlled with timely fungicide applications and others must be prevented altogether. Among the pests that affect the crops are cabbage worms, dumping off, cabbage loopers, white blister, and white leaf spot.
Harvesting
The decision to harvest may be based on overall appearance such as when the wrapper leaves are spread, the head is exposed and firm to touch. Generally, mature cabbage has good head formation and have good weight in comparison to size. Mature cabbage has a longer post-harvest lifespan than immature cabbage.
Post-Harvest Handling
Harvested produce should always be removed from direct sunlight and transported to the packing shed as soon as possible. Cabbage is particularly susceptible to wilting and other damage from high temperatures.
Storage
To maximize storage potential of cabbage, it must be stored as cold as possible without freezing. Heads should be trimmed to remove loose wrapper leaves before storage. Cabbage showing signs of insect damage, freezing damage, sunscald and bruises should be discarded before storage.
To prevent cracking of heads, cabbage should be harvested as soon as they mature.
To have a successful cabbage farm, you must understand the following:
Variety Selection
Numerous varieties of cabbages are available in the market. Several factors should be put in mind in selecting appropriate varieties. Yield is important to every grower. However, it should not be the sole factor determining variety. Disease resistance or tolerance is important in many of these crops and should be critically examined. Buyer preference and market acceptability are also important factors to be considered. Finally, the variety should be adapted to the area where it is to be planted. Some common varieties are Green cabbage, Red cabbage and Savoy cabbage.
Climatic requirements for planting
Temperature: Cabbage grows best in a relatively moist and humid climate. Leaves are affected and the quality of the head is impaired in drier temperatures. Yield and quality are poor in rainy season and it is also difficult to control insect pests. The optimum temperatures for growth and development are from 18 °C to 20 °C.
Cabbage can adapt to a wide variety of climatic conditions and can be grown throughout the year in most regions.
Rainfall: The water requirement for cabbage is between 380 to 500 mm per crop, depending on the climate and length of growing season. The usage of water increases during the growing period.
Soil Management
Plants depend on the soil for support, nutrients and water. The degree to which the soil adequately provides these factors depends upon topography, soil type, soil structure and soil fertility. Under cultivated conditions, soil and fertilizer management are two key factors that influence plant growth and yield. Tillage is a general term for any operation that disrupts and or moves the soil, typically within 10 to 12 inches of the soil surface. Land preparation sometimes involves tillage operations that help loosen, pulverize the soil and make it more conducive to plant establishment and root growth. Growth of cabbage is influenced (and in many cases is limited) by the soil profile. Hard pans, clay pans and compacted soil interfere and restrict root growth. This, in turn, reduces nutrient and water uptake, limits plant growth and reduces yields. Although cabbage is shallow-rooted, under favorable conditions and in properly prepared soil, roots will grow to a depth of 18 to 24 inches. Cabbage may be planted or transplanted on flat or raised beds. A raised bed will warm up more quickly and enhance earlier growth of the crop. Cabbage does poorly in excessively wet soils.
Raised beds facilitate drainage and helps to prevent “wet feet” in low or poorly drained soils. However, cabbage planted on raised beds may require more irrigation during drought conditions. Cabbage needs well-drained, fertile and moist soil with rich organic matter.
Planting
Cabbage may be planted by direct-seeding or transplanting of seedlings. If direct seeding is to be used, about 2 kg of seed per hectare may be required. Seedlings should be transplanted once they have reached the desired size and only well- hardened, young, stocky plants should be chosen. Transplanting is done on moist
soil. The soil around the roots should be firmed and irrigated as soon as possible after the seedlings are set. In wet areas, cabbage should be grown on raised beds or ridges to reduce water-logging, stem or root rot diseases.
Irrigation
Cabbage should be irrigated immediately after sowing or transplanting. Irrigation should be applied at intervals of ten to twelve days in heavy soils or eight days in light soils and the schedule should be followed until the heads are fully developed and firm. Young plants should be well irrigated to enhance vegetative growth before forming heads. Excess moisture when the heads have formed may cause crack.
Fertilizer
Recommendations based on soil tests result in the most effective fertilizer management program. However, recommendations can be accurate only if valid soil sampling procedures are used to collect the samples submitted for analysis.
To be beneficial, the soil sample must represent the field from which it was taken. Improperly collected, compiled or labeled soil samples are of dubious benefit and may even be detrimental. Cabbage requires supplemental fertilizer in the form of manure or compost, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Cabbage requires about 200 to 250 kg of nitrogen per hectare. Nitrogen is supplied in split applications, where 50 % to 66 % is broadcast and ploughed in just before planting. Cabbage also requires micronutrients for proper growth and development. The crop has a high requirement of calcium and deficiencies of this nutrient may occur on acid soils, on soils with very high potassium or on very dry soils. Cabbage is very susceptible to molybdenum deficiency.
Weed Control
Weeds are controlled mechanically or by hand as well as chemically through the application of herbicides. The first weed control should be done two to three weeks after transplanting.
Cabbage Disease Management
Cabbage is susceptible to a number of diseases that may seriously injure or even destroy the crop. Some diseases may cause minor spotting, but because the leaves are consumed, the quality may be reduced below market standards.
Prevention is the key to controlling diseases affecting cabbage. Some of the diseases can be controlled with timely fungicide applications and others must be prevented altogether. Among the pests that affect the crops are cabbage worms, dumping off, cabbage loopers, white blister, and white leaf spot.
Harvesting
The decision to harvest may be based on overall appearance such as when the wrapper leaves are spread, the head is exposed and firm to touch. Generally, mature cabbage has good head formation and have good weight in comparison to size. Mature cabbage has a longer post-harvest lifespan than immature cabbage.
Post-Harvest Handling
Harvested produce should always be removed from direct sunlight and transported to the packing shed as soon as possible. Cabbage is particularly susceptible to wilting and other damage from high temperatures.
Storage
To maximize storage potential of cabbage, it must be stored as cold as possible without freezing. Heads should be trimmed to remove loose wrapper leaves before storage. Cabbage showing signs of insect damage, freezing damage, sunscald and bruises should be discarded before storage.
To prevent cracking of heads, cabbage should be harvested as soon as they mature.