CABBAGE

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 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.

KGMR -1 : Round and compact green heads. Ready to harvest in 60days after maturity. Gives average yield of 140 to 160qtl/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.

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.

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.

Pusa Ageti: Suitable for March and August Planting. Ready to harvest in 75 to 90days after transplanting.

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.

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.

Manisha, Krishna, Mitra, Naath -401 etc.
 
Other state varieties:

Popular varieties of Cabbage: Pusa Drumhead, K-1, Pride of india, Kopan hagen, 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 3-4 times then do levelling of soil. Add well decomposed cow dung and mixed well in soil at time of last ploughing.

Time of sowing
For early season varieties, complete sowing in last week of August to 15 September. Whereas for mid season and late season varieties, 15 September to middle of October is optimum time for cultivation.

Spacing
Use spacing of 45x30cm for early season crop whereas for late maturing crop use spacing of 60x45cm.

Sowing Depth
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 four weeks old seedlings. Carry out transplantation in evening.
 

Seed Rate
For early sowing varieties, use seed rate of 200gm per acre whereas for late sowing varieties, near about 120gm of 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@60kg, Phophorus@24kg and Potash@24kg in form of Urea@130kg, Single Superphosphate@150kg and Muriate of Potash@40kg. Apply whole quantity of cowdung, SSP and MOP and one-third dose of Urea at time of land preparation. Apply remaining quantity of Urea in two equal quantity on 30th and 45th 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.

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.

• Pest 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.

Downy Mildew: Appearance of purplish-brown spots observed on lower side of leaves along with grayish 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 liter. Take three sprays with 10 days interval.

• Disease 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.
 

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 high demand and price they can harvested early. Harvesting is done with help of knife.

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