Cultivation Technology of Cabbage in Pakistan

Cabbage is a good source of vitamins and minerals. Cabbage is a cool season vegetable. The optimum temperature for growth and heading is between 15°C and 20^oC. Above 25^oC, the growth is arrested. Cabbage thrives best on soils that retain moisture. A soil in the pH range of 6.0 to 6.5 is the best. A seed rate of 200-500 g is enough for raising seedlings for one hectare. For production of seedlings, seed is sown in seed beds 4-6 weeks before transplanting in the field. The cultivars may be spaced at 30-40 cm between the plants and 50-60 cm between the rows.

Well rotten farm yard manure @ 25-30 tonnes/ha should be thoroughly spread and ploughed under during land preparation. General recommendation for chemical fertilizers is 100 kg N, 75 kg P₂ O₅ and 50 kg of K₂O per hectare. For better results, full quantity of P₂O₅ and K₂O and half quantity of N should be applied before transplanting. Remaining half of N should be applied four to six weeks after transplanting with subsequent irrigation.

Seedlings should be watered immediately after transplanting and thereafter irrigation should be applied at fortnightly interval. Watering should be avoided at the time of head maturity since this causes splitting of heads. The crop should be kept free of weeds by hoeing. Three to four hoeing are required to keep the weeds under control. Harvesting should be done when the heads are firm. The mature heads should be cut with a knife along with some wrapper leaves. The yield of cabbage depending upon varieties varies between 20-50 tonnes per hectare.

The cabbage crop during its growth period is attacked by a large number of insect pests every year including whitefly, armyworm, cabbage looper and cabbage butterfly. Amongst them diamond back moth (DBM) is the most serious pest of cabbage. It is a very destructive pest in southern Sindh (Hyderabad & Karachi regions) of Pakistan where cruciferous vegetables are grown throughout the year.