Cabbage

Scientific name: Brassica oleracea var. capitata
Family: Cruciferae

Growth stages	Pests  For weeds and diseases please see further down on this page. For rodents, snails and slugs please click here
Seed
Sown seeds	Ants
Seedling Stage
Transplanted Seedlings	Aphids Cabbage root maggot Cutworm Diamondback moth
Roots	Cabbage flea beetle Cabbage root maggot
Stem	Cutworm
Leaves	Aphids Cabbage flea beetle Cutworm Diamondback moth Thrips
Vegetative Stage
Stems	Cutworm Lygus bugs
Leaves	Aphids Cabbage flea beetle Cabbage webworm Cabbage white butterfly Cabbagehead caterpillar Diamondback moth Lygus bugs Thrips
Reproductive Stage
Head	Cabbage flea beetle Cabbage looper Cabbage webworm Cabbage white butterfly Cabbagehead caterpillar Diamondback moth Lygus bugs Thrips
Maturation stage
Head	Cabbage flea beetle Cabbage looper Cabbage webworm Cabbagehead caterpillar Diamondback moth Lygus bugs Thrips

Weeds

Grasses
Sedges
Broadleaf

Diseases

Fungal
Bacterial
Viral

Agro-ecology

Cabbage when planted 14 days after tomatoes reduces the incidence of and damage by Diamondback moth (Makumbi, 1996). Cabbage intercropped with tomato, coriander or garlic, combined with the application of neem seed kernel extract protects plants from Diamondback moth in the field (Facknath, 1996). Indian mustard (Facknath, 1997), Chinese cabbage, and radish are good trap crops for controlling cabbage webworm, flea hopper, and mustard aphid when planted in every 15 rows of cabbage. The mustard row is either in the outermost or in the middle row to avoid caterpillars being blown by wind into the cabbage plants (Muniappan; Lali, 1997). To control cabbage head caterpillar, Indian mustard should be planted 12 days before transplanting cabbage (Cornell University, 1995). Do not plant cabbage or where members of the cabbage family have been grown for 3 consecutive years to avoid serious problems of pests and diseases. Intercropping with certain combinations will have a beneficial effect on reducing pest damage in crucifer areas. Where farm size is small, seedlings covered with row covers (fine nylon mesh) prevent moths from laying eggs on the leaves and or next to the plant (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 2003).

Cabbage needs plenty of nutrients. NPK is needed for head formation. However, excess nitrogen (N) may cause loose head formation and internal decay. Potassium (K) deficiency can result in marginal necrosis and lower head quality, but its excess can cause the heads to open. It has high Sulfur requirement; and is sensitive to Magnesium and Boron deficiency. During land preparation, incorporate10-20 tons of manure/ha with NPK. NPK requirements are 55-75:40-80:80-110 kg/ha on prepared beds of 1-1.2 m width and 30 cm height. The distance between beds should be about 30-40 cm. Two weeks after transplanting another side dressing of 55-75 kg/ha of N should be applied. Alternatively, the same amount can be applied in split dosages as 1-2 % solutions at 3-4 days intervals starting 1-2 weeks after transplanting. Good timing in the split N applications is important for continuous vigorous growth (Siemonsma; Piluek, 1994: pp.130-113; 181-184). However, fertilizer recommendations based on soil analyses offer the very best chances of getting the right amount of fertilizer without over or under fertilizing. Ask for assistance from the local agriculturist office for soil sampling and soil analysis procedures.

If you have access to fresh seaweeds, rinse these seaweeds to remove the salt, and then apply them as mulch. Apply œ kg/100 sq feet area. Seaweed is a long-term soil conditioner and growth regulator. It contains micronutrients, amino acid and enzymes plus growth hormones that stimulate plant cell division (Card, et. al., 2002).

To help control fungal disease apply compost tea made from mature-based compost. The microorganisms present in the compost tea attack the fungi that cause cabbage disease such as Botrytis blight. To make your own compost tea, place 1 gallon of well-aged compost in a 5-gallon pail and fill it with water. Stir well and leave to stand for 3 days in a warm place. Strain the mixture which is then ready for application. Remove heavily diseased leaves before application. It is better to spray late in the afternoon so that the leaves remain damp for several hours. Check affected plants every 3-4 days and repeat applications if symptoms persist (Ellis; Bradley, 1996: p. 427). n

Further information

External links

• University of Kentucky College of Agriculture Cabbage pests. http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Entomology/entfacts/veg/ef300.htm
• Lerner, R. Purdue University. Cabbage. http://www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/senior/vegetabl/cabbage1.htm
• Department of Agriculture, Prince Edward Island Canada. Cole crops production guide. http://www.gov.pe.ca/agriculture/index.php3?number=69765&lang=E
• UC IPM. Cole crops. http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PDF/PMG/pmgcolecrops.pdf
• Purdue University. Cole crops. http://www.hort.purdue.edu/rhodcv/hort410/cole/cole.htm
• AVRDC. Crop production guides. http://avrdc.org/?page_id=2315
• OMAFRA. Storage of cabbage. http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/facts/90-055.htm

References

• CABI. (2004): Crop protection compendium. 2004 Edition. CAB International Publishing. Wallingford, UK.
• Card, A.; Whiting, D.; Wilson, C. (2002): Organic fertilizers. Colorado Master Gardener Training. Colorado State University. CMG Fact Sheet #S-34.
• Ellis, B.; Bradley, F. (1996): The organic gardener's handbook of natural insect and disease control. Rodale Press. Emmaus, Pennsylvania.
• Facknath, S. (2000): Application of neem extract and intercropping for the control of some cabbage pests in Mauritius. Proc. International Neem Conference, Queensland, Australia, Feb. 1996 In Press.
• Facknath, S. (2000): Integrated pest management of Plutella xylostella. University of Mauritius.
• Makumbi, H. (1996): Ifoam '96 Book of Abstracts. 11th IFOAM Scientific Conference, 11-15 August 1996, Copenhagen, Denmark.
• Muniappan, R.; Lali, T. (2000): Management of cabbage pests of the Asia Pacific lowland tropics. College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Guam, Guam.
• Siemonsma, J.; Piluek, K. (2000): Vegetables. Plant resource of Southeast Asia (PROSEA).
• Talekar, N.; et. al. (2000): Intercropping and modification of irrigation method for the control of diamondback moth. Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center (AVRDC), Shanhua, Tainan, Taiwan, ROC