It is leafy green or purple plant grown as annual vegetable crop. These are rich source of vitamin A and C also it contains minerals like phosphorus, potassium, calcium, sodium and iron. Cabbage can be eaten as raw as well as in cook form. In India, cabbage is grown mainly in winter in the plain region.

It is major crop of Maharashtra and it is cultivated in almost every district. Near about 7200 hectare area is under cabbage cultivation.

It can grow on wide range of soil, but gives best result when grown on well drained loamy soil having good moisture holding capacity. pH of soil should be in range of 5.5 to 6.5. It cannot thrive well in highly acidic soils.

Pusa Ageti: Suitable for tropical climate. At time of head formation, temperature should be in range of 15 to 30oC. Ready to harvest in 75 to 90days. Gives average yield of 45 to 130qtl/acre.

Pusa Drum Head: Late variety, mid-long stem, flat green and large size hard heads, high yield variety. It gives an average yield of 156-182qtl/acre.

Golden acre: Suitable for all regions, early maturing, small plant, 4-5 opened leaves, round green and small size having hard head. The variety gets ready in 60-70 days and it gives an average yield of 94-104qtl/acre.

Pride of India: Small plant, almost round, green in color and has small to medium size heads. It gives an average yield of 100-125qtl/acre.

Shree Ganesh Gol: Crop is ready to harvest in 80days after transplantation. Gives average yield of 140qtl/acre.

Other state varieties:

Pusa Mukta: Round, hard head and attractive light color variety. The variety gets ready in 85-90 days. Summer crop gives an average yield of 84qtl/acre and winter season crop gives an average yield of 125qtl/acre.

Hari Rani Gol: Hybrid, ready to harvest in 90-95days. Gives average yield of 140-160qtl/acre.

Kranti : Hybrid, ready to harvest 60-65days. Suitable for closer spacing. Gives average yield of 80qtl/acre.

Red Cabbage: Leaves are deep purpled red colored. Its yield is low compared to other cabbage variety.

Manisha, Krishna, Mitra, Naath-401 etc.

Popular varieties of Cabbage: Pusa Drumhead, K-1, Pride of india, Kopanhagen, Ganga, Pusa synthetic, Hariana, Kaveri, Bajrang. The average yield is near about 75-80 qtl per acre.

Midseason Market, September Early, Early Drum head, late large drum head, K1

Bring soil to fine tilth by ploughing land thoroughly. Give ploughing for three-fourtimes then do levelling of soil. Add well decomposed cow dung and mixed well in soil at time of last ploughing.

Time of sowing

September to October month is optimum time for cultivation.

Spacing

Use spacing of 45x45cm for early season varieties whereas for late maturing varieties use spacing of 60x45cm or 60cmx60cm.

Sowing Depth

In nursery, sow seeds at depth of 1-2cm. 

Method of sowing

For sowing transplanting method is used.

Prepared bed of convenient size. In each bed, apply DAP@40gm, Urea@25gm and MOP@30gm and mixed well in soil. Then sow seeds in nursery and apply irrigation, fertilizer dose as per requirement. Seedlings are ready to transplant within 25-30days after sowing. For transplantation use three to five weeks old seedlings. Carry out transplantation in evening. 

Seed Rate

For one acre land, seed rate 250-300gm is required.

Seed Treatment

Before sowing dip seeds in hot water (50°C for 30min) or streptocycline@0.01gm/Ltr for two hours. After treatment dry them in shade and then sow on bed. Blackrot mostly observed in Rabi. As a preventive measure seed treatment with Mercury chloride is essential. For that dip seeds in Mercury chloride@1gm/Ltr solution for 30min after that dry them in shed. Crop grown in sandy soils are more prone to stem rot. To prevent it from diseases, do seed treatment with Carbendazim 50%WP@3gm/kg seed.

Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

Nutrient Requirement (kg/acre)

Apply well decomposed cow dung@8-10tonnes per acre in soil along with Nitrogen@65kg, Phophorus@30kg and Potash@30kg in form of Urea@145kg, Single Superphosphate@190kg and Muriate of Potash@50kg per acre.Apply whole quantity of cowdung, SSP and MOP and halfdose of Urea at time of land preparation. Apply remaining quantity of Urea, 30th day after transplantation.

To get better flower (Curd) set and to obtain good yield, spray Water Soluble Fertilizer NPK(19:19:19)@10gm/Ltr water during the early plant growth. 40days after transplanting take spray of 12:61:00@4-5gram + microneutrients@2.5 to 3 gram + Boron@1gm per Ltr water. To improve curd quality, apply Water Soluble Fertilizer NPK 13:00:45@20gm/Ltr of water at the time of curd development.

Do soil testing and if Magnesium deficiency is observed to overcome Mg deficiency apply Magnesium sulphate@5gm/Ltr, 30-35 days after transplantation and for Calcium deficiency apply Calcium Nitrate@5gm/Ltr, 30-35 days after transplanting. 

If hollow and sometimes discolored stems are observed, also curds become brown and leaves may get roll and curl it is due to Boron deficiency, apply Borax@250gm-400gm/acre.

Apply Pendimethalin@1Ltr/acre four day before transplanting of seedlings followed one hand weeding after herbicide application.

Immediately after transplanting, give first irrigation. Depending upon soil, climatic condition, apply irrigation at interval of 10-15 days during winter season. Give adequate quantity of water to young seedling in vegetative stage. Heavy watering after head formation causes cracking of heads.

• Pests and their control:

Cutworm: As a preventive measure apply Methyl Parathion or Malathion (5% dust)@10kg/acre in soil before sowing.

Leaf Eating Caterpillar: They feed on leaves. If infestation is observed in field to control of leaf eating caterpillars take spray of Dichlorvos@200ml/150Ltr water or Flubendiamide 48%S.C@0.5ml/3Ltr of water

Diamond back moth: Serious pest of cabbage. They lay eggs under surface leaves. Larva of greenish color with hair on body feed on leaves and make hole. In case of lack of proper control measures, it causes loss upto 80-90%.

At initial stage take spray of Neem Seed Kernel Extract@40gm/Ltr of water at head initiation stage. Repeat this spray with interval of 10-15days. Avoid spraying at curd formation. Take spray of Bt formulations@200gm/acre at 35 and 50 days after planting. In severe infestation take spray of Spinosad 2.5%SC@80ml/150Ltr of water.

Sucking pest: They suck the sap from the leaves resulting in yellowing and drooping of leaves. Thrips results in curling of leaves, leaves become cup shaped or curved upward.

If incidence of sucking pest like Aphid and Jassid is observed take spray of Imidacloprid 17.8SL@60ml/acre using 150Ltr water. Dry weather causes infestation of sucking pest. Spray Thiamethoxam@ 80gm/150Ltr water for effective control.

• Diseases and their control:

Leaf spot, blight: If infestation of leaf spot or blight is observed, to control take spray of Metalaxyl 8% + Mancozeb 64%WP@ 250gm/150Ltr of water along with sticker or Mancozeb@400gm/150litre or Carbendazim@400gm/150litre of water.

Downy Mildew: Appearance of purplish-brown spots observed on lower side of leaves along with greyish white mold on leafs underside. Sanitation and crop rotation help in reducing infection. If infestation of downy is observed, it can be controlled by combined spraying of (Metalaxyl + Mancozeb)@2gm per litre. Spray three times with 10 days interval.

Black rot: To protect crop from black rot, do seed treatment with Mercury chloride. Dip seeds in Mercury chloride@2gm/Ltr solution for 30min. After that dry them in shed. If infestation is observed in field take spray of Copper oxychloride @300gm + Streptomycin@6gm/150Ltr for better control.

When head reach to full size and having firm texture. Harvesting can be done on basis of market need. In case of high demand and offers high price the crop is harvested early. Harvesting is done with help of knife.

After harvesting, do sorting and grading depending upon head size.