INTA

Instituto Nicaragüense
de Tecnología Agropecuaria

Cabbage RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR ITS PRODUCTION
Cabbage CROP
Optimal conditions for planting
The cabbage can be established in high and low areas, even though it is a plant that requires high
humidity. The seedbeds can be made in soil banks prepared with hoe and shovel, eliminating
weeds and preparing the soil well to put the seed and get good germination, always maintain
good humidity, and avoid puddles (which can turn into mud holes).

The transplant should be carried out when two to three moderate to strong rains have fallen,
maintaining humidity in the first 20 centimeters of the soil as this will allow to have a damp soil
with no puddles, the soil preparation must be done by plowing up the land with oxen or horses,
thus helping to control worm pests and weed management. Cabbage is a plant that does not need
much sun but it is important that they receive at least 2 hours of sun a day.

Production of seedlings
To obtain a good production, good quality and disease-free seedlings must be guaranteed. They
can be obtained in seedbeds, from either benches on the ground or in trays, using substrates
such as rice husks or carbonized bean shavings plus organic fertilizer such as lombrihumus or
bocashi. It is recommended to mix the substrate with mycorrhizae and trichoderma to improve
the rooting of the seedlings and protect them against diseases.

Before planting the seed, it is recommended to carry out a germination test. If from 100 seeds that
are sown, 85 or more are sprout, then it is considered to be of optimum quality for sowing.

Quantity of seeds and planting distances

The amount of seed to plant a manzana of cabbage depends on the method selected for the
production of the seedlings. For seed beds in the ground 40,000 seeds are needed and for trays
25,000 are used.
The right amount of plants depends on the type of planting. In flatbeds up to 40,000 plants per
manzana and in furrows up to 25,000 plants.

The most recommended planting distances vary from 60 to 80 centimeters between rows and
from 35 to 50 centimeters between plants.

Weed control practices

It is important to keep the cabbage patch clear of weeds, especially from the transplant until
the 55th day when the head formation and filling begins. The presence of weeds affects the
development and number heads for commercialization.

The main methods for the management of weeds in this crop are:

55 Manual using tools such as machete, and hoes.

55 Chemical as a last option, using selective herbicides mainly green band, which are less harmful
to the environment and human health.

Fertilization of the plot

In general, fertilization can be done in the following way:

55 AT THE TIME OF THE TRANSPLANT: use 2 quintals per manzana of complete fertilizer 12-30-
10.
55 AT THE MOMENT OF THE FIRST HILLING/ PLOWING: apply 1 quintal per manzana of urea
at 20 or 25 days after the transplant.
55 AT THE MOMENT OF THE SECOND HILLING/ PLOWING: apply 2quintales per manzana of
urea at 45 or 50 days after the transplant.

To complement the fertilization it is recommended to make 2 to 3 applications of foliar fertilizer,

based on calcium and zinc in the stage of the head formation to reduce the presence of the black
layer disease (black rot).
Humidity conservation practices for
drought conditions or low humidity
55 Use of mycorrhizae.
55 Use of bio-fertilizers such as manure tea and other bio-fertilizers to
maintain moisture in the crop.
55 Do not completely eliminate weeds, so that the surface of the soil is protected.
55 Make compost and apply to the soil to improve soil structure and at the same
time conserve moisture.
55 Make use of mulch coverage of plant preference; like corn stubble, plantain leaves.

Humidity excess management practices

With respect to the humidity in the cabbage crop, the cabbage plant requires medium humidity,
which does not exceed 70%. If we exceed these values, it will favor the development of fungi.

In case of high humidity, the following activities can be carried out:

55 The orientation of the furrows will be based on: slope of the plot, direction of the dominant
wind and orientation of the sunlight.
55 Do not establish plantations near rivers or drains.
55 Prepare the furrows when the soil has a certain degree of humidity (3 or 5 days after a rain).
55 Carry out the transplant, 75 centimeters between ridges or furrows, 30 centimeters high and
40 centimeters between plants.
55 Applications of broths (bordeaux and sulfocalcic to prevent high incidences of fungi).
55 Perform pruning of leaves affected by fungi.
55 Perform drainage ditches.
Instituto Nicaragüense
de Tecnología Agropecuario
intanicaragua
intanicaragua
inta.nicaragua

La elaboración y reproducción
de este material es financiado por el
proyecto PAIPSAN-CCN.