Red Cabbage – Primero F1

Description

SCIENTIFIC NAME:

Brassica oleracea

CULTURE:

Cabbage as well as cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and related brassicas are heavy feeders. They require fertile soils in a pH range of 6.5-7.5, supplied with consistent irrigation throughout the growing period.

EARLY SPRING CROP:

Use early and midseason varieties. Sow 2 seeds per cell in 50- or 72-cell plug flats, 3-4 seeds/2,5 cm. in 20-row flats, or in outdoor beds 0,6 cm deep. Seedlings should be ready to transplant in 4-6 weeks. If possible, keep soil temperature over 24°C until germination, then reduce air temperature to about 16°C. Transplant outdoors, 4-6 weeks after sowing, 30-45 cm  apart in rows 45-90 mc apart. Cabbage prefers cooler growing temperatures, between 13-24°C, optimum being 16-21°C, but will produce good crops under warmer, summer conditions.

FALL CROP:

Use midseason and storage varieties. Start seedlings as above in May and transplant to the garden in June-July. To ensure mature heads, seed the crop early in areas where heavy freezes occur early in fall.

WINTER CROP:

Successful cabbage crops can be grown where winters are mild (temperatures rarely below 0°C). Transplants can be set out from September to February in these regions.

DIRECT SEEDING:

Sow 3-4 seeds 30 cm  apart, 1,2 cm  deep, rows 60-90 cm apart, thinning to one plant in each group.

SPLITTING:

Early varieties may split or burst at maturity or from rapid new growth if rain or heavy irrigation follows a dry spell. Splitting may be partially avoided by slowing a plant’s growth. To accomplish this, cultivate close to plants to sever some of the root system, or by slightly twisting the plant.

DISEASES:

Adhere strictly to a preventive program including: (1) long crop rotations with non-brassica crops, (2) clean starting mixes and outdoor seedbeds, and (3) strict sanitation practices.

INSECT PESTS:

Repel flea beetles and root maggots on young seedlings by covering with insect net from day of planting.

For cabbage worms and loopers, use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). Cutworm prevention: Cultivate soil 2-4 weeks before planting to work in cover crops and destroy weeds.

HARVEST AND STORAGE:

Relatively young heads (still green and actively growing) store best. Ideal conditions are 0°C, at 95-98% relative humidity, with good air circulation. Store only disease-free heads.