ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nolofatso Ncube has been into farming since 2015 and is based in
Gwanda as a farmer and as an agronomist. She has been a small scale
farmer since 2019. Farming and Training are her passion.
ABOUT AGRIPAL
AgriPal is a startup business that helps farmers market their produce
online and also share agricultural educational content. We offer the
following services:
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Contact Us On : 0771 043 062
Cabbage production
Cabbages belong to cruciferous ( brassicca) family and it is a heavy
feeder. Cabbages have healing properties. People use cabbage for
relish and salads
Soils
Soils should be medium to heavy with good water holding capacity.
Sandy soils tend to require more frequent irrigation cycles and require
higher levels of fertilization.
PH levels should be between 5.5 and 6, so soil samples should be taken
prior to planting
Variety selection
Variety selection depends on the market. Cabbage varieties vary in size
from 2kg to 8kgs. Varieties are selected also by time of planting (winter
or summer) .Summer varieties should be black rot tolerant this disease
comes in during hot humid weather and decimate a crop if not resistant
to black rot.
Spacing
Planting can be done on beds during the rainy season which helps with
drainage and on the flat during the winter period
If the beds are made they should be 1.5 m center to center with rows
on the top of the bed between 50 to 60cm apart and planting stations
30 to 35 cm in row.
Planting on the flat rows can be 50 to 60cm apart and stations 35 to 40
cm in row
Plant population should be between 33000 to 40 000 depending on
market requirements.
Higher plant populations tend to give smaller head sizes.
Fertilizers
Cabbage is a heavy feeder and therefore need rich soil. A balanced
basal compound type of fertilizer of either A,B or C should be applied
prior to planting .based on soil analysis results and soil types can be
applied ranging from 600 t0 1000 kg. Cabbages require nitrogen 400kg
a hectare it should be split into 3 applications between 2 and 8 weeks
after transplanting. During rainy seasons if the crop is planted on lighter
soils an extra top dressing might be needed after heavy leaching rain.
Cabbages respond well in compost enriched soils. Levels of 20 to 30
tons per hectare of well-prepared compost will benefit and reduce
levels of fertilizer. Manure and chicken litter can also be used but must
be well broken down and composted or root burn will occur and
chicken litter 2 to 5 tons per hectare. Ripping then disking is also a way
to prepare a tilth for planting, final tilth must not be cloddy or too fine.
Planting
Planting with seedlings is the most practical method as seedlings which
are strong and healthy. Transplanting is the base for a uniform crop.
When transplanting make sure there is no contact of fertilizer and the
plant because this can cause root burn. When transplanting also make
sure good plug to soil contact is made so that the root system can leave
the plug and quickly enter the fertilizer enriched soil. Plant the
seedlings as soon as possible after pulling them from the trays to avoid
the tiny hair roots from drying out. Dip the seedlings in a solution of
actara to give plants 6 weeks protection from aphids and whitefly. Also
apply a spray of bion to seedlings to activate plants own defence
mechanism against bacterial and virus attacks
After transplanting a light settling in irrigation is required to remove air
pockets between plug and the soil
Irrigation
During the dry winter months irrigation is essential. Overhead sprinkler
irrigation is the most common, followed by flood and more recently
“drip” irrigation. During summer production, being able to apply
irrigation during long dry spells will ensure a good even viable crop.
Approximately 600mm – 750mm of irrigation should be allowed to
produce a good crop. So, planning water usage from, dams, rivers, and
boreholes can be worked out to match hectares to be planted. As the
plant increases in size and leaf area, the amount of water required also
increases. Irrigation should be planned on a weekly basis and the soil
depletion area checked regularly to plan for the next irrigation cycle.
The use of an “Evaporation Pan” should help with this. On medium to
heavy clay soils irrigation should be given when approximately 25% of
available water has been used.
Harvesting
Cabbages are ready for harvest when the head is firm to the touch
when pressed and the veins on the outside leaves just begin to crack.
Ideally about 60% - 70% of the heads should be cut at first harvest,
ensuring maximum yield potential. Depending on variety selection and
time of year, cabbages mature from about 65 – 130 days after
transplanting.
Pests and diseases
Pests control
Cutworms drench with lambda or chloryprfos
aphids dimethoate40ec
Malathion
bagrada bugs ddvp, imidachloprid
Diamond black moth belt , imidachloprid
Diseases
Disease symptoms control
bacterial black rot kills seedlings leaves use of resistant
completely after they varieties
turn dark in colour
When plants are
mature it causes
yellow V shaped areas
at the edge of the
leaves, particularly
lower leaves near to
the soil
bacterial soft rot cabbage turns soft and plant on ridges to
rotten with a bad prevent water logging
smell around the plants
Practice crop rotation
Wash and disinfect
harvesting knives
Yellows leaves often bend side growing resistant
ways since only one of varieties
the leaves sap tube is
Crop rotation
blocked but do not
survive long and
usually go yellow and
drop off
downy mildew fluffy fungal growth dithane M45
on the underside of
the leaf
damping off damping off and wire drench with thiram
stem of seedlings and
bottom rot and head
rot in growing
cabbage crops or after
harvest
