Crop details

Cabbage

Brassica oleracea var. capitata

Family: Brassicaceae

Quick stats

Family	Brassicaceae
Typical harvest	36.7 t/ha
Varieties	3
Pests & diseases	7
Seasons	0

Crop profile

Growth habit	annual
Days to harvest	95
Main uses	Heads eaten raw in salads or cooked as vegetables, used in coleslaw, stews and pickles.
Pollination	insect
Origin / where it grows	Cabbage is widely grown in cool and high-altitude vegetable areas in East Africa, often near towns and irrigation schemes.

Weather, soil & spacing

Best temperature	15–20 °C
Rainfall	600–800 mm/yr
Altitude	800–2600 m
Best pH	6.2–6.8
Soil type	Deep, fertile, well-drained loam or sandy loam with plenty of organic matter so heads can grow firm and heavy.
Row spacing	60 cm
Plant spacing	45 cm
Planting depth	1.5 cm
Seed rate	0.5 kg/ha
Nursery days	30

Simple notes for farmers

About the crop: This crop is annual. You plant, grow and harvest it in one main season, then plant again. You can normally start harvesting about 95 days after planting, depending on care and variety.

Main use: Farmers mostly grow this crop for heads eaten raw in salads or cooked as vegetables, used in coleslaw, stews and pickles..

Pollination: This crop is mainly pollinated by insect. Keeping flowers healthy and having insects like bees in the field helps improve fruit set and yields.

Where it grows: Cabbage is widely grown in cool and high-altitude vegetable areas in East Africa, often near towns and irrigation schemes. It is grouped under: Vegetables.

Best climate: This crop does well in warm areas where the temperature is usually between 15 and 20 degrees Celsius. It prefers places that receive around 600 to 800 millimetres of rain in a year. It can grow from near sea level up to about 2600 metres above sea level.

Soil: The crop grows best in slightly acidic to near neutral soils, with a pH of about 6.2 to 6.8. It does well in deep, fertile, well-drained loam or sandy loam with plenty of organic matter so heads can grow firm and heavy.. Good drainage is important, so avoid waterlogged spots.

Plant spacing: Plant in rows about 60 centimetres apart, and leave about 45 centimetres between plants in the row. This gives each plant enough space for roots and canopy to spread.

Planting depth: Dig planting holes or furrows about 1.5 centimetres deep so the roots sit firmly in the soil but are not buried too deep.

Seed or planting material: Use around 0.5 kilograms of seed or planting material per hectare. Spread or plant evenly so the field has a good stand without being overcrowded.

Nursery period: If you raise seedlings in a nursery, keep them there for about 30 days before transplanting to the main field, when they are strong and healthy.

Farmer guide (mwongozo wa mkulima)

Planting: Sow seed in a small nursery bed or trays with fine soil and compost. Keep moist and weed-free. Transplant strong cabbage seedlings with 4–6 true leaves into the field on cool, cloudy days or in the late afternoon.

Transplanting: Water nursery before lifting seedlings. Lift with a small ball of soil, trim very long roots and plant at the same depth as in the nursery. Firm soil gently around the plant and water immediately.

Irrigation: Keep soil evenly moist from transplanting to head formation. Avoid long dry spells followed by heavy watering, as this can cause splitting of cabbage heads.

Fertigation: Under drip, apply small, frequent doses of NPK. Give more nitrogen early for leaf growth, then maintain potassium and calcium during heading to get firm, healthy heads.

Pest scouting: Check cabbage weekly for diamondback moth, caterpillars, aphids and leaf spots. Look at the underside of leaves and in the heart of the plant and act early while damage is still small.

Pruning: No pruning needed. Remove very old, yellow or diseased outer leaves and bury or destroy them to lower pest and disease pressure.

Harvest: Harvest cabbage heads when they are firm and full-sized but before they crack. Use a sharp knife to cut the stalk just below the head and remove loose outer leaves.

Postharvest: Do not drop heads. Keep cabbage in shade, pack in crates or sacks with ventilation and store in a cool, well-ventilated place to slow wilting and rots.

Nutrient schedule (mbolea kwa hatua)

#	Stage	DAP	Product	Rate	Targets (kg/ha)	Notes
1	Basal at transplanting	0	NPK 17-17-17 or 15-15-15	250 kg/ha	N: 42, P₂O₅: 42, K₂O: 42	Band along cabbage rows 5–8 cm from the seedling line and cover lightly with soil.
2	Early topdress	21	CAN 26% N	100 kg/ha	N: 26, P₂O₅: 0, K₂O: 0	Apply between rows when soil is moist, then irrigate or lightly incorporate.
3	Heading topdress (N + K)	40	NPK 12-6-24 or urea + SOP/MOP	150 kg/ha	N: 18, P₂O₅: 9, K₂O: 36	Supports firm head formation; avoid very late heavy nitrogen to reduce splitting.

Nutrient requirements

Nutrient	Stage	Amount	Unit
N	Basal	60	kg/ha
P₂O₅	Basal	70	kg/ha
K₂O	Basal	70	kg/ha
N	Topdress_early	50	kg/ha
P₂O₅	Topdress_early	0	kg/ha
K₂O	Topdress_early	30	kg/ha
N	Topdress_heading	40	kg/ha
P₂O₅	Topdress_heading	0	kg/ha
K₂O	Topdress_heading	50	kg/ha

Field images (picha shambani)

Name	Country	Maturity	Traits
Hybrid round green cabbage	KE	85	Round firm heads, good yield and market demand.
Hybrid large drumhead cabbage	KE	95	Very large heads, good for fresh market and hotels.
Local cabbage selection	KE	90	Adapted to local conditions, lower yield than hybrids.

Stage	Product	Rate (kg/ha)	Notes
Basal	NPK 17-17-17 or 15-15-15	250	Provides balanced nutrients for early cabbage growth.
Topdress (N source)	CAN 26% N or urea	100	Apply 1–2 times during vegetative growth based on cabbage colour and vigour.
Topdress (K source)	Sulfate of potash (SOP) or high-K NPK	120	Improves head firmness and shelf life.
Organic	Well-rotted manure or compost	10000	Apply before bed preparation to improve soil structure and water-holding capacity.

Name	Type	Management
Diamondback moth	pest	Use fine netting on nurseries, rotate crops, destroy remains after harvest and use biological or selective insecticides...
Cabbage looper and other caterpillars	pest	Handpick where possible and use Bt or other recommended insecticides based on scouting.
Cabbage aphids	pest	Encourage natural enemies and use selective insecticides or biopesticides if infestations become heavy.
Cutworms	pest	Prepare land early, destroy weeds and apply baits or spot treatments if damage is high.
Black rot	disease	Use disease-free seed, rotate with non-cabbage crops and avoid overhead irrigation in the evening.
Downy mildew	disease	Improve air movement, avoid overcrowding and use protectant fungicides when conditions favour disease.
Clubroot	disease	Avoid planting cabbage repeatedly on infected land, raise soil pH towards neutral and improve drainage.

System	Typical	Min	Max	Notes
Open-field cabbage, low input	15	10	20	Local varieties or saved seed, some manure, little fertilizer and basic pest control.
Open-field cabbage, improved management	35	25	45	Hybrid seed, recommended fertilizer, good spacing, regular weeding and pest control.
Irrigated or high-input cabbage	60	40	80	Strong hybrids, drip irrigation, fertigation and strong pest/disease management.

No season calendars yet.

Country	Region	Suitability
KE	Cool highland vegetable-growing areas
KE	Mid-altitude zones with moderate temperatures
KE	Very hot, dry lowlands
TZ	Highland and peri-urban cabbage belts
UG	Cool mid- to high-altitude vegetable zones