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Cabbage Growing Tips For Beginners

Cabbage Growing Tips:

The following information is about Cabbage Growing Tips and Planting Tips.

Common Name: Cabbage.

Scientific Name: Brassica Oleracea Capitata.

Originated from: South Europe.

About Cabbage: Cabbage is a hardy, leafy vegetable full of vitamins C, K, and dietary fiber. Cabbage is the richest source of minerals like phosphorous, potassium, calcium, sodium, and iron. Cabbage is from a family of cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and other cole crops. It is the most popular vegetable used in various forms across various cuisines.

Varieties of Cabbage

  • Early maturing varieties: These varieties are harvested within 60 to 70 days. Golden Acre, Pride of India, and Puss Mukta.
  • Midseason Varieties: These varieties are harvested within 80 to 90 days. Head early, Wisconsin, All Green, and September.
  • Late Varieties: These varieties take a full winter season for more fields. Pusa Drumhead, Danish Ballhead, and Late Flat Dutch.

Apart from the above, White cabbage, Red cabbage, and Savoy cabbage.

Cabbage Growing Tips – Soil for Cabbage Planting: Cabbage plants need soil rich in organic matter that is well-drained. Cabbage grows best where the soil pH is between 6.5 and 7.5. Add plenty of well-aged compost to planting beds before sowing. You should supplement soil with nitrogen if the soil is sandy or regions have heavy rainfall. Bring soil to a fine tilth by plowing for 3 to 4 times then do leveling of soil. Add well-decomposed cow dung (Farm yard manure) and mixed well in the soil at the time of the last plowing.

Cabbage growing tips – Climatic conditions 

  • Sunlight – Cabbage plants need 6 to 8 hours of sunlight.
  • Water-Should water cabbage plants at regular intervals, and keep the soil moist.

Cabbage growing tips – Sowing/planting season

Cabbage plant sowing can be done from September to October in the plains regions. In Hilly areas cabbage plant sowing can be done during January- February, July -August, and September-October.  Harvesting will be delayed proportionate to the time of sowing. Plain areas best regions to plant cabbage plants.

Cabbage growing tips – Sowing/planting method

Cabbage is first planted indoors and then transplanted after the seedling has reached the height of around 15 cm. Once they sowed outside, the seeds are usually sown 15 cm deep and are spaced 30-60cm apart the crop spread can be wide.

Cabbage growing tips – Seed rate

Seed rate depends on the variety and plant spacing. It requires 600 to 650 grams/ha. This also depends on the planting method and season as well.

Cabbage growing tips  – Watering and feeding cabbage plants

Cabbage requires regular and even watering. Uneven watering can result in stunted or cracked heads. As plants reach maturity, cut back on watering to avoid splitting heads. Fertilize cabbage plants with a high nitrogen fertilizer such as 10-3-3 for better growth and yield.

In case if you miss this: Organic Vegetable Farming Plan.

Cabbage growing tips and caring tips

  • Hoe Regularly, to control weeds but don’t loosen the soil deeply.
  • Water your cabbage plants in dry weather, especially if you have a prolonged dry spell- a properly prepared bed will help retain moisture.
  • Protect the smaller plants from sparrows and the bigger plants from wood pigeons.
  • Feed the plants a fertilizer that has high nitrogen and potassium content. And water heavily after transplantation and gradually decrease the water amount as the plant gets accustomed to its new surroundings.
  • Cabbages are extremely vulnerable to pests, make sure to keep a fence or netting around your crop to controls pests.
  • Start cabbage seeds indoors 7 to 8 weeks before the last spring frost.
  • Transplant outdoors 2 to 3 weeks before the last expected frost date. It is better to pick a cloudy day for transplantation.
  • Plant 14 to 24 inches apart in rows, depending on the size of cabbage head desired. The closer you plant, the bigger the heads you can obtain.
  • It is always recommended to practice crop rotation with cabbage year to year to prevent any soil-borne diseases and to increase soil fertility.
  • As we all know that broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower are related and require the same kind of nutrients, avoid planting them along with cabbage. For cabbage, don’t plant closer to strawberries and tomatoes.
  • Cabbage can be cultivated along with green beans and cucumber vegetables.

Cabbage growing tips – Manures and fertilizers

Cabbage requires nitrogen and potash heavily as it responds very well to these nutrient fertilizers. The amount and type of fertilizer used vary in different parts of the country depending on agro-climatic conditions, plant population, and cultivators.

At the time of soil preparation, well-decomposed farmyard manure or compost at 150 to 200 Quintals per hectare be thoroughly mixed in the soil. At the time of transplanting of seeding, about 40 to 60 kg of Nitrogen, 40 to 60 kg of Phosphorous, and 60 to 80 kg of potassium per hectare are applied. Foliar application of nitrogen at 10 kg/ha has been found economical and more effective in improving cabbage production.

Cabbage growing tips – Plant protection

Spray the seedbeds with Metasystox along with 3 g of Biitox or 3 grams of Dithane M-45 at weekly intervals. After transplanting, spray Malathion 2 ml and 4 grams Dithane-45 in one first month up to harvesting stage.

Pests: Cabbages can be attacked by cutworms, cabbage loopers, maggots, black moths, caterpillars, black moths, and beetles. These can be controlled by dusting with flour dust, growing a cover crop, or placing a collar around the plant.

Cabbage growing tips – Harvesting cabbage

The cabbage plant is ready for harvest around 3 to 4 months after planting. You find it ready if the cabbage is hard and solid. When harvesting, cut off the head of the plant at the base, and a few outer leaves to cover the head. Harvesting must take place immediately after the heads are ready or else they will rot in the fields.

Cabbage growing tips – Yield of cabbage

Cabbage Yield.
Cabbage Yield.

The early maturing and tropical cultivars produce lower yields(200 to 250quintals/ha) due to the shorter growing season while midseason and late varieties give much higher yields(350 to 450 quintals/ha) because of favorable cooler climate for long period.

Cabbage growing tips – Growing cabbage in containers

  • It is advised to buy cabbage transplants at a garden center or nursery. Fill the containers with commercial potting soil containing ingredients such as peat, compost, and vermiculite.  A container with a depth of 12 to 14 inches and a diameter of 18 inches is large enough for one cabbage plant. The container should have a drainage hole for water drainage and good aeration.
  • Recommended mixing the soil with balance, granular fertilizer in 13:13:13 ratio before planting.
  • In containers, it is advised to plant the cabbage seeds/seedlings in the hole, deep enough that the second leaf will just above the soil. You should also pat soil firmly for better soil settlement.
  • It is recommended to expose containers to sunlight for at least 6 to 8 hours a day.
  • You should water the cabbage plants at regular intervals, fertilize the cabbage a second time when the plants begin to form heads. Use water-soluble fertilizers in a ratio of 20-20-20.
  • You should cut the cabbage from the plant when the head feels firm and solid and as per marketing requirement.

In case if you miss this: Growing Vegetables Hydroponically.

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