Red cabbage is spicier than normal cabbage due to anthocyanin pigments. The cabbage’s colour is due to the presence of anthocyanins. In addition, it makes beautiful stews, salads and pickles and is a great way to add cancer-preventing carotenoids to your diet. The leaves of the plant are tightly arranged to form a cabbage with a flat top, rounded, cylindrical, or oval-shaped. They also have leaves with a rounded shape and average size. The red cabbage plant has a small head of red leaves. Red cabbage plants flower readily in cold climates, which is why the use of tunnels is recommended in early spring plantings
Red cabbage is very similar to Green Cabbage, but still, there are some distinct differences that you need to know. It has about 10 times more “Vitamin A” than green cabbage, with twice the amount of iron. It is a low-maintenance vegetable that you can plant. This is the beautiful form of one of the oldest known herbaceous plants. The taste is similar to green cabbage and is excellent steamed or stir-fried.
How to start Red Cabbage Farming in India?
Here, below you can get the red cabbage farming specifications.
Soil Requirements
To grow red cabbage plants, provide well-drained, nutrient-rich soil high in organic matter. Red cabbage can be grown in various soil types, from sandy loam to clay. To get a good yield, ensure that the soil’s pH level is maintained at 6.5 to 7 to get a good yield. Soil rich in organic matter with drainage is all your red cabbage plants need to thrive.
While you prepare the soil for red cabbage farming, you should be well-known with various equipment such as a tractor, harrow, plough, and harvester machine. Therefore, when you choose the tractor, you should consider the features with price. Therefore, you can choose the affordable tractor such as the mini tractor, you can get it in many brands like Sonalika, Mahindra etc. And also, you can attain mini tractor price and any other tractor prices online.
Growing Red Cabbage Plants
Generally, red cabbage is sown from February to mid-April and transplanted from April to early June. It does well in moist areas with well-drained fertile soil. The area’s topography should be flat or gently sloping to avoid seed displacement by water at the planting time. This is applicable where production is commercial and must be grown in sunlight.
You can plant the cabbage from scraps or seeds. We can get quality Red Cabbage seeds in any store or agricultural seed company. Though, scraps are the cabbage leftovers that are attached to the root.
- You should grow the seeds indoors before transplanting. We recommend you start red cabbage seeds indoors about 4 weeks before the last frost. Sow seeds in containers that allow water movement from the bottom of a cell.
- You should be ready for transplanting once they are about 2 to 4 inches tall and have sprouted their first leaves. You should keep hard off the seedlings to slow the growth so that they can withstand the tough conditions where they are to be transplanted. Once the shoots are about 2 inches tall and develop their first leaves, they can be hardened off and taken outside for transplanting.
- When transplanting, space the seedlings about 12 to 26 inches apart for growth. Make sure you weed and take measures to control pests and diseases that can attack your crops until they are mature. Water your plants regularly because red cabbage requires a lot of water.
- Red cabbage prefers a moist and cool climate for most of its vegetative growth stage. As a result, you will need to be watered frequently but are otherwise low-maintenance plants.
Process of Planting Red Cabbage
- Once the seedlings are established, and they have grown 2 to 3 true leaves, it is time to plant your red cabbage.
- Do this 2 to 3 weeks before the last expected frost date. Transplant on a cloudy day so that the cabbage seedlings are not exposed to strong sunlight.
- You should choose a nice spot on your farm, or raised beds are ideal but unnecessary.
- An area with partial shade is best because the red cabbage plant loves the sun but cannot tolerate too much heat.
- Plant your red cabbage seedlings in rich soil and then scatter some organic matter into the soil. Old manure or compost will work well.
- Ensure you drain the soil well, as red cabbage cannot tolerate wet soil.
- Plant in rows about 12 to 24 inches apart.
- Add fertiliser once the plant is stable, and you can grow cabbage with cucumbers and beans.
- Red cabbage is closely related to cauliflower and broccoli, and it is best not to plant them together as they are heavy feeders and compete for nutrients.
Caring for your Red Cabbage Plants
Keep the soil around red cabbage weed free. First, carefully remove any yellowing leaves on red cabbage plants that caterpillars have badly damaged. Then, keep an eye on the plants throughout the autumn and winter, if necessary, by lifting them from frost or pulling up some soil around the stems to help prevent wind rock and keep them firmly down. However, do not dry out plants as this will lead to bolting in the plant. Instead, for long periods (weeks or more) without rain, you should water slowly but deeply once a week. As a rough rule of thumb, apply about 10 litres per square soil area. Do this watering in the morning and try not to splash the leaves of the plant; instead, water the soil.
Equipment Requirement
With information about red cabbage cultivation, you should also know the equipment that will help to boost the yield. Of course, tractors are an essential segment in every fruit cultivation. However, the John Deere tractor is the most eminent tractor for farming, and you can easily check all tractor price online.
For further details about growing red cabbage in India, stay tuned with us.