{"id":733,"date":"2012-11-09T11:39:35","date_gmt":"2012-11-09T11:39:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/fortuneofafrica.com\/ug\/cabbage\/"},"modified":"2012-11-09T11:39:35","modified_gmt":"2012-11-09T11:39:35","slug":"cabbage","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/afrifacto.com\/uganda\/cabbage\/","title":{"rendered":"Cabbage"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var capitata L.) is a reknown source of vitamins and mineral nutrients for human diets worldwide. In Uganda, cabbage is among the lucrative vegetable crops grown mainly by small-scale farmers for local consumption and for the growing urban markets.<\/p>\n

Growing of cabbage<\/strong>
\nCabbage plants need 6-8 hours of sunlight per day and are usually ready for harvest 45-105 days after planting, depending on the variety and climate. When growing Cabbage, it’s important to leave enough space between plants as they can get quite large. Some varieties of cabbage can produce heads weighing 15-20 pounds. Other varieties produce much smaller heads, weighing a couple of pounds each.<\/p>\n

Irrigation<\/strong>
\nCabbages need regular irrigation to ensure rapid growth and evenness of maturity. They can be irrigated by moveable spray lines, travelling irrigators or solid set if the soil is suitable and water available, flood irrigation. Cabbages grown in beds will require more irrigation than those grown on the flat. Soil type and weather will also influence the frequency of irrigation. The use of densitometers or other measuring equipment will improve yields and reduce water costs.<\/p>\n

Benefits from cabbages<\/strong>
\nCabbage is an excellent source of vitamins C, A, B6, B1 (thiamin), B2 (riboflavin), fiber, manganese, folate, calcium, potassium, magnesium, protein and omega-3 fatty acids.<\/p>\n

Challenges in growing cabbage<\/strong>
\nThe following are the challenges the farmer may face in growing cabbage:<\/p>\n