How to Increase Cabbage Yields
If you are trying to increase cabbage yields, you must know what the main causes of poor productivity are. These factors are mainly caused by a deficiency of nitrogen in the soil. There are many ways to improve soil nitrogen levels. The first thing you need to do is to amend the pH of your soil. The ideal pH for cabbage plants is between 6.5 and 6.8. Adding lime can help raise the pH level to 7.0. Soil that is too acidic can be filled with nitrogen. In sandy soil, you can apply moderate quantities of cottonseed meal and blood meal.
Another factor affecting yield is air temperature. When air temperatures reach 30 degC or 85 degrees F, cabbage production decreases by a third. By decreasing air temperature to around 80 degrees Fahrenheit, you can increase cabbage yields without compromising plant health. It is also important to remember that the lower air temperature, the better the crop. This means lower input costs and less pressure on pests. However, increasing yields also helps protect natural environments and restore them.
The study showed that farmers can increase cabbage yields by rotating them with other vegetables. Rotating cabbage with African leafy vegetables also helps to increase soil nitrogen content. These vegetables have the added benefit of fixing nitrogen and reducing the incidence of disease and pest attack. Thus, farmers can avoid spending money on pesticides and fertilizers. This is a great way to boost your yields! So, what are the best ways to increase cabbage yields?
Soil temperature is one of the most important factors in growing cabbage. The best soil temperature is sixty to 65degF. Young plants may bolt at temperatures below 45degF and form loose heads. Therefore, if you are planning to grow cabbage in colder climates, you should cover them before planting them. Make sure you add some compost and well-rotted manure before planting the seeds. The best way to maintain the soil moisture level is to rotate crops in your area. This will also help prevent the risk of soil-borne diseases and pests.
The study concluded that modified NDVI measurements could explain 78 to 82% of the variation in yield of cabbage during in-season. Compared to quadratic and linear functions, the exponential function performed the best for in-season cabbage yield predictions. The linear function with NDVI/CGDD values performed slightly less well, with a RMSE of 6.25 and an R2 value of 0.78. By using a CGDD based method, yield prediction equations became more accurate and robust.
Companion planting between cabbage and onions helps increase the yields of both crops by sharing the same soil type and growing conditions. When planting next to one another, carrots are a great companion crop. They share little common pests and are easy to grow. Carrots also take up a little space below the ground and require less soil than cabbage. However, small-headed varieties of cabbage still need a few feet of space.
Planting dandelion greens around a cabbage plant will also maximize its yield. This is because it grows vertically, meaning that it can shade out the other plants. This also means that you can harvest the greens throughout the season. The resulting heads will be about the size of a tennis ball. You can keep them for up to two weeks in a root cellar, or even longer under good conditions. If you want to store them for winter, you should pick them before they become too large.
When choosing cabbage plants, use certified seeds that are resistant to diseases. Choose varieties resistant to diseases common in your area. In case you don’t have time to spray your plants, you can hand-pick the caterpillars or protect them with a net. Similarly, you can also prevent alternaria leaf spot by collecting residues from the field after harvest. However, you should remember that you cannot control every disease and pest in your garden.
