Cabbage Farming in Kenya | Veg Farms Kenya

Cabbage Farming in Kenya.

Growing cabbage in Kenya is one of the most common and lucrative vegetable farming endeavors. Kenyan farmers grow cabbage vegetable, which is sold in the neighborhood market. If you want to create a successful cabbage farming business in Kenya, cabbage cultivation in Kenya may be your best alternative. In this blog post, we'll give tips on how to start a successful cabbage farming in Kenya.

Table of Contents

• Starting Cabbage Farming in Kenya
• Cabbage Farming: Best Cabbage Variety
• Cabbage Farming: Planting
• Cabbage Farming: Fertilizer Requirement
• Pests and Diseases Affecting Cabbage Farmers in Kenya
• Cabbage Farming: Harvesting.
• Estimated Calculations
• Cabbage Irrigation Farming in Kenya FAQs

In Kenya, Sukuma wiki and cabbage are the two most widely consumed green vegetables. The cabbage is a member of the Brassica family, along with kale, cauliflower, and canola. There are red and green types available. They are a mainstay in the diets of families and institutions all around the nation. This is because they are easily accessible all year long.

Starting Cabbage Farming in Kenya

Soil & Climate for Cabbage Production in Kenya

Temperatures between 25 and 30 oC are ideal for seed germination.

Temperatures between 15 and 20 oC are ideal for cabbage growth and head production.

Under tropical conditions, cabbage types that are tolerant to heat can develop compact heads at daytime temperatures of 30 to 35 oC.

Cabbage Farming: Soil characteristics

The best soils cabbage production in Kenya are those that have good drainage, a lot of organic matter, and a lot of water-holding capacity.

Prior to planting, soils with a pH of 6.8 or above should be corrected by distributing hydrated lime.

Cabbage Farming: Best Cabbage Variety in Kenya

A farmer must take into account a number of important factors when selecting the variety to grow, including the length of maturity, yield potential, tolerance and resistance to pests and diseases, good field holding capacity, uniform maturity to ensure a single harvest, and market preference, among other qualities. 

In light of this, a number of Best Hybrid Seed See the Pricing Here Countrywide delivery, Pay on delivery have been introduced to the market after being rigorously screened for the aforementioned desirable features. Due to their outstanding and dependable features, these cultivars easily outcompete other types in particular market categories.

There are different best cabbage varieties in Kenya: Gloria F1, Pruktor F1, Riana F1, and Queen F1. Polo F1, Karen F1, Sunny F1, and most recently

Variety	Maturity in Days/After transplanting	Average head weight/Kg	Characteristics
Gloria F1	80-85	5	Heat resilient It is suitable for planting during the dry season or when irrigation is present since it has a strong root system and a thick wax layer. It is widely grown, particularly in Uganda's central and wealthy highlands and Mount Kenya.
Pruktor F1	80-90	6	An early-maturing medium variety. Grows in a variety of climates Extremely resistant to black rot. Has flawless, sturdy round heads that can resist extensive transit
Queen F1	80-85	5	Widely adaptable to cool and warm climatic zones Highly tolerant to black rot disease  and bursting
Riana F1	85-90	6	Tolerance to black rot disease Rich in green colour Suitable for fresh market and processing industry
Serena F1	80-85	4.5	Has well compacted heads Excellent tolerant to black bean disease Does well in wide climatic zones
Polo F1	70-75	4	Very early maturing variety Has light green round shaped heads Very uniform and tolerant to bolting
Sunny F1	70-75	3.5-4	Early maturing variety Tolerant to humid weather patterns and ideal for coastal belt

Cabbage Farming: Planting

Cabbage Farming: Seed Requirement

About 120g of seeds are required for one acre. It is strongly advised that farmers purchase seeds from a licensed store and obtain a receipt for their purchases. Before being planted in the field, seedlings can be cultivated on seed beds or in seed trays for about four weeks. To make seedlings more tolerant of field conditions, they should be hardened off before to transplanting.

Best Hybrid Seed See the Pricing Here Countrywide delivery, Pay on delivery

Cabbage Farming: Nursery Management

Currently, there are two methods for producing seedlings: using seed trays and using regular ground.

• A shielded nursery that is well-controlled and raised to a width of 1 m is the best place to sow.

• The soil needs to be thoroughly worked into a fine tilth before making sowing lines that are 10 cm apart and 2-3 cm deep.

• To get between 40 and 50 plants per sowing line, the seeds should be sown on the ground at a distance of 2 cm.

• To prevent splashing, the seedbed can be covered with dry grass or gunny sacks.

• Make careful to water frequently after 4 days and very early in the morning.

• Expect soil-borne pests and diseases during the nursery period, from which you must protect the seed.

• Another typical problem that hinders the growth of seedlings is damping off.

• After transplanting is complete, anticipate a cutworm invasion.

Cabbage Farming: Germination

If grown in a seedbed, cabbage seeds take 4 to 10 days to sprout and should be transplanted after 5 to 7 weeks. They mature and are harvested about 80 days after that.

In this manner, you should sow your seedlings in March or April for a July or August harvest. However, you may also plant them on any four-month cycle as long as you avoid sowing in October or November if you live in an area with higher temperatures.

Cabbage Farming: Spacing

• For larger varieties, the recommended spacing ranges from 50 by 50 cm to 70 by 70 cm. Plant one cabbage per square foot within a planting framework of square feet.

• We refer to cabbage as a "heavy feeder." To develop those large heads, cabbage needs adequate nutrients.

• In this way, it is best cultivated in soils with some clay content, but the soil should also be deep, rich in organic matter, and have a great capacity to hold water. This refers to the soil's ability to store rain or irrigation water for longer periods of time.

• To do this, dig 12 to 20 tons of excellent manure per acre of land a month and a half before planting, and thoroughly loosen the soil before doing so.

• Additionally, cabbage needs a lot of air to circulate through the soil, so regularly loosen the soil and add mulch. The soil will remain cool and moist if a thick mulch layer of 15 to 20 cm is applied. Fill up the soil around the root or stem area before the head develops. This will promote the growth of the plant's roots.

Cabbage Farming: Transplanting

When seedlings are 10 to 15 cm tall or have 5 or 6 leaves, transplant them.

The day before transferring them to their final location, water the bed.

To reduce shock, transplant the cabbage plants in the evening. Maintain as much dirt as you can around the roots.

Although spacing might vary depending on market demands, a typical 60 cm × 60 cm spacing is advised.

Apply 8–10 MT/acre of thoroughly decayed farmyard manure and thoroughly incorporate it into the soil.

Apply base fertilizers with phosphorus at a rate of 10 grams per hole, such as N:P:K, to the planting hole.

Top-Dressing 

Top-dress with nitrogenous fertilizers 3–4 weeks after transplanting.

Cabbage Farming: Crop Care and Management

Water application: The optimum time to do this is in the evenings, but it should be done once day in the proper proportion. Don't water your plants too much or too little. Do not water cabbages from the top since they may be contaminated.

Soil conditioning: This is accomplished by sparingly applying manure to the soil. Your cabbage plants may suffer if there are too many or too few nutrients available.

Weeding: This is the eradication of undesirable plants from the location where your cabbage plants may have been grown. Weeds prevent the passion fruit trees from growing properly.

Mulching: You can mulch your cabbage plants to prevent weed growth or retain moisture in the soil.

Monitoring: This is accomplished by routinely inspecting for illnesses and pests. It is vital to use pest management techniques because some pests may choose to invest in cabbage plants.

By using these techniques, your cabbage veggies should grow quickly and you should even see growing heads within a few weeks.

Consider applying water soluble fertilizers as your cabbage plantation grows and matures to stimulate the plant and encourage it to produce big, well-formed cabbage heads.

Irrigation

In Kenya, irrigation methods for growing cabbage include drip irrigation, sprinkler irrigation, and irrigation using rain hose kits. Even moisture is necessary for irrigation-based cabbage production to yield quality heads. 

The amount of water needed by farmers to cultivate cabbage in Kenya is independent of the variety grown. Hybrid cabbage cultivars are the finest to cultivate in Kenya, however they need regular irrigation while they are growing. Successful Kenyan cabbage farmers need 25 to 37 litres of water per week to supply the local market.

Installing Drip Irrigation System on Cabbage

Making Beds

Your beds will be 1M broad and 30cm high to allow for three rows of drip lines and good drainage. Drainage is crucial to preventing cabbage root rot, which is caused by an excessive amount of standing water.

Drip Irrigation Tapes Being Laid.

Drip lines run in two rows over each bed. Each drip line row is 20 cm away from the edge of the bed. When there are no beds, each row is 30 cm apart.

Cabbage Farming: Fertilizer Requirement

The amount of fertilizer needed will depend on the soil analysis conducted before planting. The following is a guide, though. Acre: 120: 60: 60 kg NPK

The most favored applications are split ones. First CAN split at 10 grams per plant.

First top dressing: 50 kg of C.A.N. per acre (15–20 days after transplantation).

Second split should be applied two weeks later at a rate of 5g per plant; avoid using too much nitrogen as this can lead to split heads.

Second top dressing: 100 kg of ammonium sulphate per acre plus 30 kg of MAP per acre (40–45 days after transplanting).

Top dressing should be applied in bands, and plants need to be earthed up after each treatment.

Since cabbage has a shallow root system, it needs frequent, light irrigation, especially when the head is forming.

Pests and Diseases Affecting Cabbage Farmers in Kenya

Many farmers in the Kenya rely on cabbages vegetable as a source of income, so it is important to take precautions to guarantee that they are well-cultivated and that farmers take the time to look after them by simply taking care of them and making sure they are protected from serious disease infections.

However, the following significant insect and disease attacks limit the growth of cabbage.

Aphids

Numerous aphid attack the crop leaves, especially when the weather is dry and does not allow for much water. In circumstances that provide damp conditions, they are uncommon. Irrigation can be used as the greatest choice for pest control during the dry season.

Cutworms

Moth larvae are in the stage. It typically hides in the soil or wet trash. By merely cutting the seedling's stem at the base after transplantation, they do damage to the crop. By using the proper pesticide powder with the soil in the planting holes, it can be managed.

Damping off

Is there a serious illness that affects the nursery's cabbage seedlings? It happens in areas that receive a lot of water. The crop will eventually wither and perish down the road if it is not regulated. Control can be achieved by simply removing the shade and trimming the excessive seedlings.

Downy mildew

It happens more frequently in places where there is a lot of mist. Simply pulling the plant out of the ground and burning it will cure the ailment.

Blackrot

It targets the stem's pith. When infected cabbage is cut, a black ring indicating the location of the plant's demise can be visible. The most effective method of disease control will be crop rotation.

Brussels sprouts, kale, cauliflower, and broccoli should not be planted more than once every three years in the same place to prevent soil-borne diseases. Plant the cabbage after the beans, then the maize or potatoes.

Cabbage Farming: Harvesting.

Cabbage vegetable plants are grown from seed in a nursery, and when the seedlings are between 10 and 12 cm tall and between 4 and 6 weeks old, they are transplanted. When the cabbage heads grow hard to the touch, they are mature and prepared for harvest. 

Depending on the cabbage variety chosen, this could happen up to three months after transplanting. It's preferable to keep cabbages cool and out of the sun. Each head can weigh as much as 4 kg. A typical acre yields between 12,000 and 16,000 heads.

You can earn Ksh 220,000 (net profit) per acre from growing cabbage (This after deducting your expenses). A total of Ksh 80,000 is thought to have been spent (From nursery all the way to harvesting minus irrigation equipment).

To prevent the heads from cracking, harvesting should take place in the chilly early hours.

To ward off pests, keep an eye out for caterpillars and aphids and regularly dust your cabbages with wood ash.

Planting in the cold months reduces caterpillar invasion. Additionally, keep the soil moist or mulched to keep flea beetle damage at bay. Invasion by aphids is a sign of heat, high water pressure, and a lack of dietary supplement availability.

Finally, avoid planting cabbage adjacent to strawberries, lettuce, maize, mustard, radish, or other plants for better growth.

Is Cabbage Farming Profitable in Kenya?

Profit Estimated Calculations

If you get 15,000 heads at a cost of Ksh 20 each, you will receive Ksh 300,000. (Gross Profit).

Ksh 300,000 minus Ksh 80,000 equals Ksh 220,000. (Net Profit).

The cost of the cabbage farming in Kenya, includes labor, chemicals, seeds, and agricultural equipment. Irrigation is necessary in some parts of Kenya, although it is not included in the calculations. 

Since there is typically an excess of inventory for sale in the latter part of the rainy season, the price of cabbages will fluctuate depending on the season. If growers have drip irrigation, they should schedule their planting periods such that cabbages will be offered for sale during the dry season, when costs are at their maximum.

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Cabbage Irrigation Farming in Kenya FAQs

What is the cost of a cabbage drip irrigation kit?

1-acre drip irrigation kit; Kes 125,000 1/2 acre drip irrigation kit; Kes 70,000 1/4 acre drip irrigation kit; Kes 40,000 1/8 acre drip irrigation; Kes 25,000

Do cabbage require a lot of water?

Yes. During the early stages, a cabbage plant will need up to 1 inch or 25 liters of water per square meter every week. Under dry conditions, this will be mature at 2 inches/50 liters per square meter. Root rot is a result of too much water.

How to drip irrigate cabbage?

Use drip emitters spaced 30 cm apart. There won't be any irrigation dry shadows since this cabbage drip irrigation system will water every plant. Avoid watering in the late afternoon and early morning hours.

Does cabbage needs lots of sun?

Yes. In the Kenya, 10–12 hours of sunlight are required for head formation.

How long do cabbages take to mature in Kenya?

The majority of cabbage types are suitable for harvesting 75 to 88 days after transplanting. There are types that mature very quickly and can be harvested 55 days after transplantation. After transplanting, some late cultivars reach maturity 95 to 105 days later.

How do you make cabbage grow faster?

Apply 20-10-10 N.P.K fertilizer to the cabbage's top dressing two weeks after planting. This fertilizer, which is high in nitrogen, will give the cabbage the boost it needs to grow big. Measure the cabbage from the center to the outer leaves to decide where to put the fertilizer.