Cabbage is one of the vegetable crops whose use has been great because of its availability and importance.
Cabbage is cultivated mostly in Morogoro, Arusha, Tanga, Iringa, Kilimanjaro and Mbeya regions. As a vegetable, cabbage contains nutrients such as lime, protein, shrimp and water in abundance. It is used to make pickles, also mixed with meat or beans.
Cabbage crop prefers: cool conditions Altitude: From 1200 to 1900 meters above sea level. The soil should be; Loam, rich in nutrients and long-lasting moisture, not waterlogged, not too saline. If you don't have enough nutrients, add compost or compost.
Early Jersey Wakefield:
The shape is slightly pointed, it binds well, the weight is between 1.5 to 2.0 kg, it matures early 90 - 100 days after transplanting. · Copenhagen Market: The heads are round and crack easily. Early maturing, 90 – 100 days from transplant ·
Prize Drumhead: Big heads (2-2.5 kg), Heads are flat, late ripening (110 - 120 days) - Tolerant of hot sun, Also the heads split.
· Oxheart: - The small heads are pointed like a heart, Very popular with consumers, Its taste is sweet, it ripens early, It does not tend to burst.
Glory of Enkhuizen : - Round heads, Tolerates strong sunlight, Late maturing (110 – 120 days) and Has a tendency to burst.
GROWING SEEDS
Cabbage seeds are grown in the nursery and later transferred to the field. Prepare the nursery well and put well-rotted natural fertilizers in the amount of 5 - 10 buckets of 20 kg in an area of 10 square meters. Mix it with the soil and then smooth the soil by breaking large lumps using a rake. Make an embankment 25 cm high and 1 meter wide.
Water the ridge one day before planting the seeds. The amount of seeds required is 1 gram per 1 square meter, so 1 hectare requires 200-300 grams. Sow at a distance of 15 centimeters from row to row and half a centimeter deep. Cover the seeds with soft soil and spread grass to preserve moisture. Water every day in the morning and evening until the seeds germinate, they germinate for 5-10 days.
The field should be prepared one month before transplanting.
· Cut the ground to a depth of 30 cm
· Soften the soil and make ridges and then put natural fertilizers in the amount of 2 buckets for each step or Fertilizer should be placed in each hole in the amount of a kilo per hole.
· NPK 5:15:5 fertilizer can be placed in the amount of 1 teaspoon of 5 grams per hole.
Seedlings are ready to be planted in the field after 3-5 weeks from planting the seeds. Seedlings are 15 – 20 cm long. Carefully remove the seedlings and transplant them as they were in the nursery and make sure the roots are not bent during transplanting. Transplanting space: It depends on the type of cabbage - with big heads (Drumhead) is 60 cm from seedling to seedling and 75 cm from row to row. - Small heads (Oxheart) are 40-50 cm from plant to plant and 60 cm from line to line. - The distance from one embankment to another is 60 cm. - The best time to plant is morning or evening - After transplanting, apply mulch such as dry grass to retain moisture and prevent weeds from growing easily.
The cabbage crop does not have deep roots so when weeding it is important to be careful by weeding on the surface to avoid cutting the roots. Adding mulch helps reduce frequent weeding.
Cabbage grows best if there is enough water in the soil. Water twice or more per week depending on the weather and soil type. Cabbages that do not receive enough water are late to set and have small heads. If they lack water for a long time and suddenly get a lot of water, the heads split.
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