CABBAGE VARIETY EVALUATION

Winter 2001-2002

D. N. Maynard¹, A. M. Dunlap², and B. J. Sidoti²

Gulf Coast Research & Education Center

University of Florida

Bradenton, Florida 34203

Cabbage was harvested from 7900 acres in Florida in the 1999-2000 season. The average yield was 507 50-lb crates per acre and the total production was over 4 million crates. With an average price/crate of $5.04 the crop was worth over 20 million dollars (Witzig and Pugh, 2001). Florida ranked fourth among the states in value of fresh market cabbage, exceeded only by California, New York, and Texas (USDA, 2002).

This report summarizes results of a cabbage variety evaluation conducted at the University of Florida’s Gulf Coast Research and Education Center during the winter of 2001-2002.

Materials and Methods

Land Preparation. Soil samples from the experimental area obtained before fertilization were analyzed by the University of Florida Extension Soil Testing Laboratory (Hanlon and DeVore, 1989): pH=6.9 (target pH is 6.5) and Mehlich I extractable P=55 (high), K=10 (very low), Mg=70 (high), Ca=655 (adequate), Zn=4.9 (adequate), Cu=3.5 (adequate), and Mn=3.0 (adequate) ppm.

The EauGallie fine sand soil was prepared in mid-November 2001. Beds were formed and fumigated with methyl bromide:chloropicrin, 67:33 at 350 lb/treated acre. Banded fertilizer was applied in shallow grooves on the bed center at 2.52-0-3.50 lb N-P205-K20/100 lbf after the beds were pressed and before the black polyethylene mulch was applied. The total fertilizer applied was equivalent to 220-0-304 lb N-P205-K20/acre. The final beds were 32-in. wide and 8-in high, and were spaced on 5-ft centers with six beds between seepage irrigation/drainage ditches which were on 41-ft centers.

Transplant Production. Seeds were sown on 17 October into 1.5 x 1.5 x 2.5 inch containerized cells of Styrofoam transplant flats filled with a commercial mix (60% sphagnum peat moss and 40% vermiculite with 3 pounds dolomite, 1 pound Micromax [microelements] and 1 pound gypsum per yd3) produced by Faford, Inc., Anderson, SC 29621. Supplemental nutrients were supplied periodically as liquid 20-20-20 (N-P205-K20). The seedlings were hardened by withholding water and nutrients during the final phase of production.

Crop. Transplants were set in the field on 27 November in two rows per bed with plants spaced 12 inches within rows and each row was 8 inches to each side of the bed center. Twenty-four plant plots per entry were arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Data was collected from the center 20 plants in each plot. Labeled pesticides for insect and disease control that were applied included: Bacillus thuringiensis, indoxacarb, maneb, and chlorothalonil.

Harvest. Cabbage was harvested when heads displayed a glossy sheen (rather than a waxy, dull sheen) and innermost wrapper leaves curled back tightly from the heads. Heads were cut with three to four wrapper leaves, graded for marketability, measured and weighed. Notes were made concerning any characteristic which caused the heads to be rejected as marketable under U.S. Standards for Grades for cabbage (USDA, 1981). Six heads per replication were sampled and cut longitudinally through the core and inspected for density, leaf edge necrosis (tipburn), and core dimensions. Data for marketable yield in 50-lb crates/A and as a percentage of plants set, average head weight and diameter, and core characteristics were analyzed.

Results and Discussion

Mean monthly maximum and minimum temperatures were higher than the 47-year average throughout the period. Rainfall was less than average throughout the period (Table 1).

Cabbage yields ranged from 740 50-lb crates for ‘Red Dynasty’ to 1361 50-lb crates/acre for ‘Atlantis’ (Table 2). Yields of nine other entries were not different from those of ‘Atlantis’. The proportion of heads harvested varied from 79% for ‘Red Dynasty’ to 99% for ‘Atlantis’, ‘Pruktor’ and ‘Green Cup’. Yields in this trial were similar to those obtained in 2000-2001 (Maynard, et al., 2001) and 1.2 to 2.2 times greater than the state average yield of 620 cwt/acre in 2001 (USDA, 2002). Average head weight ranged from 2.7 pounds for ‘Red Dynasty’ to 4.0 pounds for ‘Atlantis’. Accordingly, all entries produced heads that would make 18 or less per 50-lb crate.

Equatorial dimensions were 5.0 inches for ‘Red Dynasty’ to 6.9 inches for ‘Atlantis’ (Table 3). Polar dimensions varied from 5.8 inches for ‘Ducati’ to 7.5 inches for ‘Gideon’. ‘Blue Dynasty’, ‘Cardinal’, ‘Emblem’, ‘Gideon’, ‘Gloria’, ‘Izalco’, ‘Pruktor’, ‘Ramada’, ‘Red Dynasty’, ‘Rio Verde’, ‘Solid Blue 780' and ‘Solid Blue 790' had oval heads; ‘Ducati’ and ‘Matsuma’ were flat; and the other entries were nearly round. Core length was greatest in ‘Emblem’ and shortest in ‘Matsuma’. Core diameter was greatest in ‘Red Dynasty’ and least in ‘Atlantis’, ‘Izalco’, ‘Cardinal’ and ‘Red Success’.

Light purple coloration appeared on outer head and wrapper leaves of ‘Solid Blue 780’, ‘Pruktor’ and ‘Emblem’ shortly before harvest. This may not have been acceptable for some markets or in a poor cabbage market.

‘Atlantis’, ‘Bravo’, ‘Cheers’, ‘Ducati’, ‘Emblem’, ‘Gideon’, ‘Gloria’, ‘Green Cup’, ‘Izalco’, ‘Matsuma’, ‘Pruktor’, ‘Ramada’, ‘Rio Verde’, and ‘Solid Blue 790' are currently recommended for production in Florida.

Note: The information contained in this report is a summary of experimental results and should not be used as recommendations for crop production. No discrimination is intended nor endorsement implied where trade names are used.

Acknowledgment

We are grateful to the following firms for their financial support of vegetable variety evaluation during 2001 and 2002. Abbott & Cobb; Agrisales, Inc.; BHN Research; Fafard, Inc.; Harris Moran Seed Co.; Hazera Quality Seeds; Hollar Seeds; Sakata Seed America; SeedWay; Shamrock Seed Co., Inc.; Southwestern Seed Co.; Sugar Creek Seeds, Inc.; Sunseeds; Syngenta Seeds; US Seedless, LLC; Willhite Seed, Inc.; and Zeraim Gedera Ltd.

Literature Cited

Hanlon, E . A. and J. M. DeVore. 1989. IFAS extension soil testing laboratory chemical procedures and training manual. Fla. Coop. Ext. Circ. 812.

Maynard, D. N., A. M. Dunlap, and B. J. Sidoti. 2001. Cabbage variety evaluation. Winter 2000-2001. GCREC Research Report BRA-2001-04.

United States Department of Agriculture. 1981. U.S. standards for grades of cabbage. USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA, Washington, DC.

United States Department of Agriculture. 2002. Vegetables. 2001 summary. Vg 1-2.

Witzig, J. D. and N. L. Pugh. 2001. Vegetable summary 1999-2000. Florida Agricultural Statistics Service, Orlando.

Florida Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Series No. T-00000.

¹Professor

²Biological Scientist