Farmer’s Weekly – 23 August 2019

back to basics

Cabbage is grown from seed.
Eight weeks before planting,
remove all weeds on the land.
Plough the soil immediately
before planting with a disc
harrow or other suitable
implement to a depth of
between 450mm and 600mm.
If necessary, fumigate the soil
two weeks before planting
to control nematodes.

• Planting
  Plant by direct seeding or
  transplanting seedlings.

Direct seeding requires 2kg

of seed/ha. Transplant the

seedlings as soon as they reach

the desired size; only well-

hardened, young, stocky plants

should be used. Transplanting

is done on moist soil.

Firm the soil around the roots

and irrigate as soon as possible

after the seedlings are set.

In wet areas, plant the

seedlings on raised beds or

ridges to reduce waterlogging

and stem or root rot diseases.

BELOW:

The cabbage

inflorescence,

which appears in

the plant’s second

year of growth, has

white or yellow

flowers, each

with four petals.

GRIENSTEIDL

Cabbagecan begrownin a wide range of soils,

but does best in a well-drained, moisture-retentive

loamy soil, well supplied with organic matter.

Cabbages form smaller and

slightly more pointed heads

when spaced closely.

Inthecaseofa large-headed

variety,plantata densityof

40000 plants/hato 45000

plants/ha;planta medium-

headedcultivarat 55000

plants/hato 65000 plants/ha;and

plantbabycabbagesat 80000

plants/hato 100 000 plants/ ha.

Large-headed cultivars should

be planted with an inter-row

spacing of 600mm to 700mm, and

450mm apart in the row. Smaller-

headed varieties are planted with

an inter-row spacing of 600mm,

and 300mm apart in the row.

• Fertilisation
  Cabbage is a heavy feeder; give
  it supplemental fertilisation
  in the form of manure or
  compost, nitrogen, phosphorus
  and potassium. Fertiliser
  programmes should be based
  on soil analysis and should
  be developed for each land.
  Cabbage requires nitrogen at
  a rate of 200kg/ha to 250kg/ ha.
  This quantity should be split
  into two or three applications:


• Broadcast between 50%
  to 66% and plough it in just
  before planting. This first
  application is made together with
  phosphorus and potassium;


• Side-dress the remainder
  six weeks later;


• Alternatively, side-dress half
  the remainder two to three
  weeks after transplanting and
  the rest three weeks later.
  If youprefera fertiliser
  mixture,broadcast2:3:2(22)
  ata rateof 1 500kg/ha and
  potassium at 100kg/ha before
  planting. Apply a top dressing
  of LAN at 300kg/ha four weeks
  after transplanting and again
  four weeks later, if required.

micronutrients

Cabbage needs micronutrients

for proper growth and

development. The crop has

a high calcium requirement

and a deficiency may occur

in acid soil, in soil with a

very high potassium level,

or in very dry soil.

Vegetables

Planting cabbages

40 farmer’sweekly 23 August 2019