Planting cabbage

I am a farmer in Luweero District. I currently have potatoes and tomatoes which are doing well. I want to grow cabbages immediately after harvesting tomatoes. Kindly guide me on the best cabbage farming practice to attain maximum produce. Prisca Ateenyi Nyakabandwa

Dear Prisca
Cabbage is a heavy feeder of nitrogen and potassium. Organic matter, phosphorous and potassium fertilisers should be applied before transplanting and dressing of nitrogenous fertilisers done about four weeks from transplanting and three weeks thereafter.
The rates are 5-10g/plant (185-370kg/ha) of CAN and 200kg/ha DSP. Cabbage benefits from heavy doses of well-decomposed organic manure but there is need for balanced application of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. You can also use cow dung, coffee husks mixed with chicken droppings and proper mulching.

Excessive application of nitrogen alone results in loose puffy heads, which cannot be stored for a long time.
Cabbage is shallow-rooted and care should be taken not to damage roots in the field as this would encourage entry of fungi and bacteria.
Cabbage is also a poor competitor of weeds thus it should be protected. Avoid excessive weeding.

This may lower yields due to excessive water loss through evapotranspiration and root damage.
Mulching may be beneficial in weed control and conservation of soil moisture.

Answered by Moses Lumu, an agronomist at Makerere University Agricultural Research institute, Kabanyolo (MUARIK).