Cabbage
Cabbage is a crop that can be planned in order to be harvested all year round. To do this, we play on the varieties, densities and planting dates. The cabbage strategy consists of having many small successive series (low marketing potential). In any case, cabbage has a low profitability per m² (around €16/m²), and is therefore not a structuring element of the farm's turnover, but rather a strategic marketing element (attracting consumers in the off-peak period)
Soil preparation
Cabbages will appreciate a layer of compost of 10-15 cm provided that they are well implanted in the soil so that the root ball does not dry out when transplanting. Cabbage is grown on tarpaulin or organic mulch, straw is added manually to a thickness of 15 to 30 cm to ensure no weeding during cultivation. Cabbage appreciates deep soils. In cold weather or for early plantings, the needs are greater due to the low mineralization.
Planting
To resist pest pressure during planting, cabbage plants need to be very stocky and vigorous. To do this, few nutrients and little water are needed. To do this, cabbages are sown in cell trays (30 days before planting) in not very rich soil. The cell trays can be placed on the ground (the roots will seek food in the soil) and shaken from time to time (in order to break some roots and stimulate the production of new roots)”
Another technique consists of watering the plants less one week before transplanting. A cabbage ready to plant has a very woody and purplish hypocotyl axis. Be careful, these hardening techniques do not apply to Chinese cabbages which behave more like salads. Planting and planting holes are made manually or with a bucket planter.
Crop monitoring
For cabbages, if grass cover must be limited at the beginning of the crop, it can be more significant at the end of the crop without this being detrimental.
For cauliflowers, the head must be protected from the sun by breaking a leaf to cover it: this ensures that it remains white.
For Chinese cabbages, bolting is induced by the lengthening days, beyond 14 hours.
Irrigation
Irrigation is required at planting for the cabbages to recover. In open fields, autumn crops do not require watering but care must be taken in the summer for summer cabbages. Water requirements increase until the head emerges and then decrease.
Beware of irrigation surges (too much or not enough) which can induce bolting.
Harvest
Harvest takes place when the cabbages are well formed and the head is dense. It may be considered to let the smaller shoots (Broccoli in particular) go, which will be harvested in a second pass.
Tip
Daily monitoring just after planting allows you to monitor watering, slugs and flea beetles. This ensures the success of the crop.
Storage
Cabbages keep well in the field. Very strong frosts will cause some damage. White and red head cabbages can be stored in pallets in straw, for example.
Variety
Be careful when choosing varieties that are suited to the season: there are short-cycle cabbages (early harvests) and long-cycle cabbages (autumn, winter).
- Autumn pointed cabbage: Coeur de boeuf (sown in the fall, transplanted in January). Red head black (done all year round).
- Curly kale: Milan de Pontoise (excellent, not too curly, a little purple).
Pests
Several common problems for cabbages:
- Flea beetles that damage young plants in dry periods. Very fine-mesh insect nets installed at the start of cultivation provide good protection.
- Slugs that attack young plants
- Cabbage white, depending on the flight-laying periods. Nets protect the crop. On well-nourished cabbages in living soil, the white does not really pose a problem.
Adaptation to the soil/climate
In warmer regions, it is possible to plan for cabbages planted in the fall for a very early harvest the following spring.
On the contrary, be careful in these regions with the production of summer cabbages, which can be complicated. Straw helps cool the crop and prevents it from going to seed.
Possible ITK variants
It is possible to plant cabbages in a tarpaulin (woven or silage). This allows weeding by hiding the beds.
Galerie photos
