CABBAGE
PLANTING
GUIDE
2020
SIMLAW SEEDS COMPANY LIMITED
P.O.Box 40042-00100
NAIROBI.
CALL: 0722 200545/0734811861
WHATSAPP: 0794 546935
EMAIL:
[email protected] SUPERIOR AND RELIABLE
PREFACE
Simlaw seeds Company ltd, a subsidiary of Kenya seed
company, was founded in 1929 making it one of the oldest
seed companies in East Africa region and renowned for
supplying 'superior and reliable seeds' to farmers. Over the
years of operation, Simlaw seeds has managed to maintain
it's position as a leader by closely collaborating with it's
partners across the world, being in constant touch with all its
stake holders and most importantly, investing in research and
development.
It is our pleasure to be associated with the farming success
in the East Africa region in line with our vision and mission of
availing superior and affordable certified horticultural seeds
and other inputs to improve agricultural productivity and
livelihood of stakeholders. Key amongest the stakeholders is '
the farmer.'
This planting guide provides a summary of our cabbage
varieties available from Simlaw Seeds co. and it's outlets.
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SUPERIOR AND RELIABLE
INTRODUCTION
Cabbage belong to Brassicaceae (Cruciferae) family which includes crops such
as Kale, Cauliflower,Broccoli and Radish. It is divided into three main types:
Green, Red and Savoy, and is one of the most widely grown, popular and
nutritious vegetables in Kenya mainly for the domestic market. It can be grown
by both small and medium scale farmers. Nutritionally it is rich in Calcium, Iron,
Vitamin A, C & E, Minerals, Riboflavin, Nicotinamine and Ascorbic Acid. It also
act as cleansing agents for stomach and intestinal tract if consumed raw
without salt due to high sulphur and chlorine content.
While farming it is important to plant hybrid cabbages since they have a high
rate of germination and conversion into cabbage heads, good tolerance to
diseases and in some cases pests, high yields since one head can weigh up to 5
kg, good field holding and uniform maturity.
CLIMATE
Cabbage will tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions but thrives in
cooler temperatures. It can tolerate hard frosts, but severe freezing can be
damaging. Its flavor improves with cooler temperatures because plant cells are
working to convert starches to sugars to protect the plant against the cold.
It is advised that the planting dates be well planned so that harvest dates occur
in cool weather. Cabbage is most heat tolerant but prolonged high temperature
causes puffy heads with long cores and increased tip burn.
SOIL TIP: Crop rotation is especially important with cabbage and other
members of the brassicaceae family. like the kale, radish, turnips and broccoli.
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SUPERIOR AND RELIABLE
VARIETIES
In Simlaw Seeds we have a wide variety of cabbages, both hybrid and Open
Pollinated Variety, that can best suit the different climatic conditions in the region.
Chairman F1:
This is a medium – late maturing variety ready for harvesting 85-90 days after
transplanting.
Characteristics
firm- very firm and green color head.
Tolerant to Black Rot.
Plant population: 11,111 per acre.
Average head weight 4-5 kg.
Yield: 30 tonnes-50 tonnes per acre.
Riana F1:
This variety has both heat and cold tolerant, blue green, white internal color.
Characteristics:
Resistant to splitting when irrigated or rain fed.
Maturity: It takes 90 – 100 days after transplanting.
Has Round and compact head, weighing 4-5 kg.
Tolerant to Black Rot.
Yield 15 tonnes – 30 tonnes per acre.
Gloria F1:
It is an early-medium maturing variety ready for harvesting 75-85 days after
transplanting.The head is firm to very firm and compact blue green color head. It
does not to splitting and has along shelf life.
Characteristics:
Tolerant to Black Rot.
Plant Spacing: 60 cm x 60 cm
Maturity: 90 days after transplanting.
Plant population: 11,111 per acre
Average head weight 4-5 kg.
Yield: 30 tonnes-50 tonnes per acre
Pruktor F1:
It is a medium to late maturing variety and can be ready for harvest 85-90 days
after transplanting. the head is firm to very firm and compact.
Characteristics:
Tolerant to black rot and ring spot.
Blue green color.
Head size is 4-5kg
Shape is high round
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SUPERIOR AND RELIABLE
TRANSPLANTING
Appropriate stage for transplanting is 4-5 weeks after seed sowing, precisely
when the plant has is 4-6 true leaves. It is recommended that transplanting
should be done late in the evening. Recommended Spacing is 60 cm-72 cm,
is 60 cm between rows and 45 – 60 cm between plants. Averagely the variety
this will give a plant population of 11,000 – 14,800 plants/acre. It is important
to ensure proper settling of soil around the roots and watering well. For
moisture, cabbages require above average water and lack of this results in
slow growth and poor performance.
*Splitting of cabbage may happen when there is sudden supply of water
after a dry spell.
FERTILIZER APPLICATION
RATES
During planting apply 500g of manure per planting hole (8 tons/acre) and 2
table spoons (10 g) of DAP per planting hole (80 kg/acre).
*Only use well decomposed manure to avoid possible introduction of cutworms
in the field
Mix DAP fertilizer thoroughly with the soil to avoid possible scorching of the
seedlings.
Top dressing:
This is done with CAN fertilizer in 2 splits to avoid nutrient loss through
leaching as well as excessive soil salinity
The first split is applied at a rate of 10 g/plant (100 kg/acre) 2 – 3 weeks
after transplanting
The second split is applied at a rate of 20 g/plant (200 kg/acre) at the
onset of head formation.
Use placement method as it is more effective and economical.
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SUPERIOR AND RELIABLE
WATERING
The Cabbage requires optimal amount of rainfall 500 mm during the growing
period.
• Regular watering should be maintained to ensures uniform head formation,
prevent head splitting and increase the size of the head
• Watering should be reduced as crop matures.
• Excessive irrigation increases water logging hence deficiencies of Magnesium
and Phosphorus.
*Irrigation can be overhead, drip or furrow
PHYSIOLOGICAL
DISORDERS
Internal burn tip: tip burn is caused by inadequate supply of calcium.
maintenance of a uniform soil moisture content is done to prevent moisture
stresses. Tip burn causes the tip to become necrotic. Spraying of the calcium
does not necessarily relieve the symptoms. Calcium normally requires root
pressure to move into the leaves, especially the inner leaves.
Black petiole: is caused by high phosphorous levels and corresponding low
potassium levels.
Bolting: this is characterized by formation of flowers pre-maturely. it
happens when the early planted crop is subjected to ten or more continuous
days of temperatures between 4 degrees and 10 degrees.
Head shape: Low temperatures bring about flat heads, high temperatures
cause a conical shape.
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SUPERIOR AND RELIABLE
Control
PESTS Cultural
drowning
control
the slugs
is
in
done
water
by
tin
buried in the ground and filled
CUTWORMS: They are grayish black
with water yeast is added to
larvae that partially or completely bite
attract the slugs.
the stem at ground level causing the
Use slug pellets.
plant to fall over. They are found APHIDS: soft-bodied insects that use
camouflaging in the soil near the cut their piercing sucking mouthparts to
seedlings feed on plant sap.
Control: Damage:
Hand removal since the pest is Cabbage aphids can harbor and
easily found near the damaged transmit viruses. When the
plant, especially at the beginning of temperature is cold, cabbage aphids
infestation hide tiny black eggs in plant debris,
Ploughing exposes the pest to its cabbage stumps, or other hiding
predators and desiccation places.Eggs or resting adults can be
Use of appropriate insecticides, present in woody old stalks, which is a
such as – Beauvoir bassiana/ good reason to pull up plants you
biological insecticides . don’t need, and cut them into pieces
(Drenching should be done in the before composting them.
evenings)
Infected crop have curled and
SLUGS: a small animal with a soft,
distorted leaves which in turn lead to
smooth and slimy body without a shell
poor head formation.
that slowly moves using one muscular
foot. In cabbages they are mostly found
Control: Field hygiene is the best
under the leaves and its damage can
practice which entails removal and
reduces and quality and therefore
destruction of crop residue.
marketability.
Natural enemies (Parasitic Wasps) can
also be used.
• Use of Biopesticide.
• Use of insecticides.
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SUPERIOR AND RELIABLE
Control;
DISEASES Use certified seeds
Maximize on field sanitation (burn crop
BLACK ROT residues)
Description;This is a seed-borne
Use of resistant/tolerant varieties, e.g.)
Karen F1, Sunny F1 Gloria F1 and
bacterial disease, spread
chairman F1
through soil and infected debris.
Rotate cabbage with legumes and
Black rot attack and it
cereals. (at least 3 years)
spread is highly favored by
Use of copper based fungicides (should
high moisture conditions and
be sprayed at early Stage of disease
high temperatures (26 – 30
infestation)
0C).
Spacing plays a great since
crowded role plants provide
BLACK LEG (DRY ROT CANKER):
conditions that are ideal for Descriptions: This is a seed borne
bacterial spread to nearby fungal disease, Spread through
plants. movement of infected seedlings, garden
Symptoms; tools and crop debris.
Yellow V-shaped lesions on
It is destructive in wet soil Symptoms and
the leaf margins which later
leaves have light brown spots which may
turn brown as the leaf veins
be circular and which later develop ash
in the affected area become
grey centers with many black spots. Stem
black.
has dark cankers below the soil level that
A cross sectional cut of
kills the roots. Destroys the fibrous root
infected stem reveal a
system. Affected plants wilt abruptly and
characteristic black ring.
die or topple over as heads enlarge
In later stages, affected
heads turn black and soft.
The rotten heads give a
characteristic offensive
adour.
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SUPERIOR AND RELIABLE
ALTERNARIA LEAF SPOT
Control:
Use of certified seed Descriptions: This fungal disease can
Field sanitation (hygiene) severely damage cabbage if not
Crop rotation for 1-2 years controlled.
Good drainage
Diseased plant parts should not
be fed to animals if manure is to
be used on fields
Ploughing
Application of Iprodione (spray
on the base of the plants. Do not
apply more than twice) Symptoms:
The effect of disease is spread in
RING SPOT the all stages of cabbage growth
from vegetative to storage.
Descriptions: This is a seed borne
At first it start as a small, circular
fungal disease
dark spots on older leaf surfaces
It is mainly spread by wind.
As the spots enlarge, centered
Also compost made from infected
rings develop within lesions
crop residues can act as transport
surrounded by a yellow halo
media for the disease.
Later on lesions eventually fall
out, producing a hole.
Under wet conditions, spots are
covered by masses of black
spores.
In storage, spots enlarge and soft
rot bacteria may enter lesions
Symptoms: Cabbage infected has
Control:
circular brown grey spots on the leaves
Use disease free transplants
which are often surrounded by a green
Remove all plant debris and
margin and with black – specked zones
destroy them after the season.
Control: Use crop rotation
Use of certified seeds such as Crop
rotation for at least 2 years
Use of fungicides
Maintain field hygiene
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SUPERIOR AND RELIABLE
BACTERIAL SOFT ROT
Descriptions:
It is a soil borne disease
•bacterial soft rot development
is highly favoured by high
HARVEST
temperature (32 – 33 0C).
It is mostly spread by rain splash
and also overhead irrigation on 75-90 days is the proper time for
lower leaves. harvesting. The heads should be firm-
It mainly infest at post-harvest to- hard at harvest. Delayed harvest
stage. may increase the risk of splitting
mature heads, if the soil moisture
content increases suddenly. Hybrid are
preferred for commercial production
because of the high percentage of
crops that can be harvested at one
time. Harvested heads must be cooled
immediately after harvest.
Symptoms:
The infected cabbage head becomes
soft and has watery rot which
develops an offensive smell
When the stem of the affected plant
is cut, a very odor smell is generated.
Control:
Maintain field hygiene
Crop rotation cabbage with
legumes, cereals
Avoid harvesting when it is wet.
Remove from the field or plough
crops deeply immediately after
harvesting so that the residues
decompose as quickly as possible.
Handle produces carefully and
store in a cool, well-ventilated
area.
Foliar sprays with copper based
fungicides.
Use of bactericide.
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OUR DISTRIBUTION
NETWORK
SALE EMAIL TEL NO/MOBILE
CONTACT
OFFICES ADDRESS NUMBER
0722 200545/0734811861/
SEEDS MANAGER 020 316619
COMPANY
SALES AND
KITALE [email protected]
0726 141856/0722 205144/
MARKETING +25405431909
MANAGER
BRANCH [email protected]
NAKURU 0721 868683/ 0737 868683/
MANAGER 0722 205144
ELDORET 0726 141856/0722205144
REPRESENTATIVE
AREA SALES 0726 141856/0722205144
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REPRESENTATIVE
Page 11
Page 04
For further inquires contact our head
office:
0722 200545/ 0734 811861
email:[email protected]
:0794 546935
shop online: www.simlaw.co.ke
:simlaw_seeds
:simlaw seeds company limited
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