Cabbage is Kenya’s most consumed vegetable crop alongside Sukuma wiki. Cabbage is loved because it is affordable and can feed many people. Cabbage comes in red, purple, and green and varies in shape from conical to round with loose, tight, or curly leaves. In this article, you will find a detailed look at the best varieties grown in Kenya.
The best cabbage to grow in Kenya is the green-colored one, followed by the red ones, preferably a hybrid variety, depending on your ecological zone and production goals.
Below is a list of the best-grown cabbages in Kenya:
1. Copenhagen Market
It requires a cool or warm climate; plant spacing is 60 cm x 45 cm, and the maturity period is 65–70 days after transplanting. They are early maturing with small to medium round heads that are uniform in size, weighing 2–2.5 kg and yielding 20,000–30,000 kg per acre.
2. Green Challenger F1 Cabbage
Blue-green with a rich, creamy interior colour, is tolerant to Diamond Back Moth (DBM), Black Rot, and Fusarium Yellows. Plant spacing is 30 x 30 cm or 60 x 60 cm. It takes 60 days to mature after transplanting. They are early maturing; the heads are round with a compact size, weighing 2.5–3 kg, and the yields per acre are 40,000–50,000 kg.
3. Blue Dynasty F1Cabbage
This variety has good tolerance to Black Rot, Cabbage Ring Spot, Diamond Back Moth (DBM), and Fusarium Yellows and can do well in warm areas. The crop spacing is 60 cm x 60 cm, with the maturity period being between 80 – 85 days after transplanting. This variety is medium-late maturing with a round, compact-shaped head, weighing 4–5 kg. They can yield approximately 45,000–68,000 kg per acre.
4. Pruktor F1 cabbage
The Pruktor F1 matures within 80 days after transplanting. They are tolerant of low night temperatures, the Black Diamond Back moth, and Black Rot disease. The plant spacing is 60 cm x 60 cm, has a sweet flavor with uniform-sized heads weighing 5–6 kg, and can yield up to 50,000–60,000 kg per acre.
5. Amigo F1 Cabbage
It is also tolerant of Black Rot and Diamond Back Moth (DBM). Amigo F1 is characterized by green and semi-round heads weighing 4–6 kg. This variety requires warm or cool areas and matures within 90–100 days, yielding around 45,000–68,000kg per acre.
6. Riana F1 Cabbage
The crop spacing is 60 cm x 60 cm; they are tolerant to heat and cold and are characterized by a blue-green exterior and a white interior. They are also resistant to splitting when irrigated or rain-fed. It takes 90–100 days to reach maturity after transplanting.
Riana F1 cabbage has a round, compact head weighing 1.5–2.5 kg. They are highly tolerant to Black Rot and Tip Burn and yield approximately 15,000–30,000 kg per acre.
7. Gloria F1 Cabbage
It is a medium-late maturing variety, ready for harvesting within 90 days after transplanting, and has a solid blue-green color with a thick waxy layer. It is not prone to splitting and keeps well after harvesting.
It is tolerant to Black Rot and resistant to Fusarium Yellows. The plant spacing is 60 cm x 60 cm head weight, averaging 3-5 kg, yielding about 30,000–50,000 kg per acre.
8. Baraka F1 Cabbage
It is a variety with high yields; it is bluish-green with a round head weighing 4–6 kg, matures within 75 days, has good field holding capacity, and is highly tolerant to Black Rot, Ring Spot, and Cabbage Yellows. They have good ground clearance, yielding approximately 40,000–50,000kg per acre.
Other Varieties of Cabbage That Grows Best in Kenya
Cabbage is amongst the existing vegetables with a broad range of varieties that have been appreciated by many Kenyans. Below are other cabbage varieties grown in Kenya besides the commonly known ones:
1. The Red or Purple Cabbage
The Red cabbage has a more peppery taste, unlike other common cabbages, due to the presence of the anthocyanin that is responsible for its colour. The red cabbage exists in several species, as listed below:
2. Ruby Ball Cabbage
Ruby Ball produces firm round heads, which are small-medium sized, with excellent uniformity and internal quality. They have a purple-red colour and a small opening. They are ideal for harvest as baby red cabbage. Rub Balls are quick-maturing and take between 60 and 65 days to mature and resist black rot disease.
3. Ruby Perfection
They have round heads that average about 2–2.5 kg, are rich in deep red colour, and have good storage potential. Ruby Perfection matures 80 days after transplanting and will be ready for harvest.
4. Red Acre
Red Acre cabbage is an early maturing red cabbage. It produces a reddish-purple head which grows to about 7 inches and weighs approximately 1 kilogram. They have better storage than any other early variety and are resistant to yellowing disease.
5. Savoy Cabbage
Savoy is a specific cultivar of cabbage, like other varieties of cabbage. It has wavy green leaves with a lighter texture and milder flavor than the common green cabbage. This variety takes about 70–110 days to be ready for harvest. Other varieties of Savoy include:
i. Savoy King
ii. January King
iii. Savoy Perfection
iv. Famosa
How Successful Cabbage Farmers in Kenya Make Cabbage Grow Faster
The following are key factors to consider in how to make cabbage grow faster that will be of great help in boosting your success as a cabbage farmer:
1. Planting Hybrid Seeds that Mature Faster
Hybrid seeds are advantageous because they are faster, easier to grow, and more adaptable to stress. Also, they are highly productive and resistant to diseases compared to other seeds.
2. Use of Right Fertilizer at The Right Time
To speed up the maturity of the cabbages, fertilizer will play a key role by boosting the physiological processes and stabilizing the health of the cabbages by allowing them to absorb, store, and utilize vital mineral components during the growth process.
3. Proper Spacing of the Cabbage
Well-spaced cabbages mature faster because the absorption of minerals and essential nutrients per plant is high since the competition between the planted crops is lower.
4. Choosing the Correct Type of Soil to be Planted
A well-drained and fertile soil enhances the maturity of the cabbages due to the availability of required nutrients that are important in speeding the cabbages’ maturity.
