Oakes Irrigation Research Site
Carrington Research Extension Center * North Dakota State University
P.O. Box 531, Oakes, ND 58474-0531, Voice: (701) 742-2189, FAX: (701) 742-2700, email: rgreenla@ndsuext.nodak.edu

CABBAGE HYBRID PERFORMANCE TRIAL

Richard Greenland, Leonard Besemann, and Heidi Kerlin

Cabbage grows well in the cool climate of North Dakota, but cabbage production is limited due to market uncertainty and lack of information on available hybrids. Data were collected to determine suitability of these hybrids for both the fresh and slaw markets.

Results summary

Table 9. Yield data, overall quality and head shape of early (fresh market) cabbage.

Table 10. Cabbage head characteristics for early (fresh market) harvest.

Table 11. Late (slaw market) yields and harvest data.

Table 12. Cabbage head characteristics for the late (slaw market) harvest.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Soil: Maddock sandy loam; pH=7.3; 2.7% organic matter; soil-P and soil-K were very high; soil-S was very low.

Previous crops: 1996 - carrot; 1995 - field corn; 1994 - potato and soybean.

Seedbed preparation: Disked on May 2. Multiweeded (field cultivated) three times: once on May 5 to incorporate fertilizer; and twice on May 9 to incorporate herbicide.

Planting: Drilled barley cover crop on May 12 (1 bu/acre, 6-inch rows). Direct seeded cabbage on May 13 with a Stanhay vegetable planter. Seeds were spaced about 7 inches apart in 17-inch rows. Plants were later thinned to 15 inches apart (about 26,000 plants/acre). Seeds were placed about ½ to 3/4 inches deep into a flat, fine seedbed. Sprayed Poast + Dash (1.5 pt/acre + 1 qt/acre) on June 13 to kill the barley cover crop.

Plots: Main plots were 34 ft long by one row (17 inches) wide. Each main plot was divided into 2, 17-ft long sections. The study had 4 reps.

Fertilizer: On April 23, broadcast 14 lbs N/acre and 70 lbs P₂O₅/acre as 10-50-0, 16 lbs N/acre and 19 lbs S/acre as 21-0-0-24, and 94 lbs K₂0/acre as 0-0-60. Sprayed 50 lbs N/acre as 28-0-0 on May 5. Fertigated 52 lbs N/acre as 28-0-0 on July 11.

Irrigation: Overhead sprinkler irrigation as needed.

Pest Control: Weeds were controlled using Treflan (1 pt/acre applied preplant incorporated on May 9), Dacthal (8 lbs/acre on June 5), Lentagran (2 lbs/acre on June 19), and by hand weeding. Sprayed DiPel (1 lb/acre on July 15, July 21, July 28, Aug 4, Aug 21, and Aug 28) to control cabbage looper and cabbage worm.

Harvest: One section of each main plot was hand harvested when heads were firm and of marketable size (early harvest). The other section was harvested about two weeks later (late harvest). Cabbage head characteristics were measured on representative cabbage heads selected at each harvest from each plot.

RESULTS

The cabbage had generally lower quality and yields due to late planting. Royal Vantage, Blue Vantage, and Blue Pak were the best fresh market varieties. For the slaw market, Augusta looked really pretty but didn't yield very well. Cheers, Royal Vantage, Blue Vantage, and Bronco had the best yields.

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Table 9. Yield data, overall quality and head shape of early (fresh market) cabbage in the Oakes Irrigation Research Station 1997 cabbage hybrid performance trial.

Hybrid Seed source^† Days to harvest Harvest spread^‡ Number of heads Yield Overall score Head shape^§ Head size

----- days ---- 1000s/A tons/A 1 to 10 1 to 5 lbs

Augusta RG 94 7 11.5 26.3 7.1 2.9 4.8

Blue Pak FM 103 11 17.9 29.4 5.7 2.7 3.3

Blue Vantage ST 100 10 18.8 33.1 4.8 2.4 3.8

Bronco BZ 100 12 13.2 22.9 6.9 2.8 3.6

CB2 RG 97 8 9.0 14.3 6.4 3.1 3.2

Cheers AT 99 12 17.5 37.8 5.1 2.2 4.3

Coleguard HM 104 8 9.0 16.2 5.5 3.2 3.5

Gourmet FM 95 10 10.2 21.9 5.1 2.5 4.3

Head Start AS 85 12 11.1 20.3 5.8 3.1 3.8

King Cole FM 94 13 14.9 28.5 5.2 2.9 3.9

Royal Vantage SK 100 16 17.1 31.4 5.8 2.8 3.7

LSD (0.05) 4 NS 5.9 9.9 1.0 0.4 NS

C.V.(%) 3 41 30 27 12 10 17

^†See appendix A for seed source codes.
^‡Harvest spread is the number of days between first head ready to harvest until last head in plot ready to harvest.
^§Head shape: 1 is very flat; 2 is flat; 3 is round; 4 is tall; 5 is very tall.

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Table 10. Cabbage head characteristics for early (fresh market) harvest in the Oakes Irrigation Research Station 1997 cabbage hybrid performance trial.

Hybrid Seed source^† Head density^‡ Diameter Color Core

equator polar inside^§ outside^¶ length width

1 to 3 ---- inches ---- 1 to 3 1 to 4 ----inches---

Augusta RG 2.7 7.2 7.0 1.6 2.9 3.8 1.2

Blue Pak FM 2.3 6.2 6.0 1.4 3.0 3.3 1.0

Blue Vantage ST 1.5 6.9 6.0 1.8 3.0 2.8 0.9

Bronco BZ 2.8 6.4 6.4 2.0 2.7 3.1 1.2

CB2 RG 2.5 6.4 6.7 2.1 2.9 3.8 1.1

Cheers AT 1.8 7.2 6.3 1.8 3.0 3.2 1.1

Coleguard HM 2.6 6.5 6.7 2.0 2.9 3.6 1.2

Gourmet FM 1.3 7.2 6.8 1.3 2.9 3.6 1.0

Head Start AS 1.1 6.9 7.1 2.0 3.1 3.6 1.3

King Cole FM 1.6 6.8 6.6 1.9 3.0 3.4 1.3

Royal Vantage SK 2.2 6.3 6.1 1.8 2.9 3.0 0.9

LSD (0.05) 0.5 NS 0.6 0.3 NS 0.5 0.2

C.V.(%) 17 8 6 10 5 10 11

Hybrid	Seed source^†	Head density^‡	Diameter	Color	Core
equator	polar	inside^§	outside^¶	length	width
		1 to 3	---- inches ----	1 to 3	1 to 4	----inches---
Augusta	RG	2.7	7.2	7.0	1.6	2.9	3.8	1.2
Blue Pak	FM	2.3	6.2	6.0	1.4	3.0	3.3	1.0
Blue Vantage	ST	1.5	6.9	6.0	1.8	3.0	2.8	0.9
Bronco	BZ	2.8	6.4	6.4	2.0	2.7	3.1	1.2
CB2	RG	2.5	6.4	6.7	2.1	2.9	3.8	1.1
Cheers	AT	1.8	7.2	6.3	1.8	3.0	3.2	1.1
Coleguard	HM	2.6	6.5	6.7	2.0	2.9	3.6	1.2
Gourmet	FM	1.3	7.2	6.8	1.3	2.9	3.6	1.0
Head Start	AS	1.1	6.9	7.1	2.0	3.1	3.6	1.3
King Cole	FM	1.6	6.8	6.6	1.9	3.0	3.4	1.3
Royal Vantage	SK	2.2	6.3	6.1	1.8	2.9	3.0	0.9

LSD (0.05)	0.5	NS	0.6	0.3	NS	0.5	0.2
C.V.(%)	17	8	6	10	5	10	11

^†See appendix A for seed source codes.
^‡Visual estimate of head density. The higher the number the more solid the head.
^§Color of inside of cabbage head: 1 is whitish green; 2 is yellow green; 3 is light green.
^¶Color of outside of cabbage: 1 is yellow green; 2 to 4 are light, medium, and dark green.

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Table 11. Late (slaw market) harvest data for the Oakes Irrigation Research Station 1997 cabbage hybrid performance trial.

Hybrid Seed source^† Days to harvest^‡ Number of heads Yield

1000s/acre tons/acre

Head Start AS 99 (0.0) 12.8 cde 36.4 bcd

Augusta RG 108 (3.5) 9.0 e 34.8 cd

Gourmet FM 110 (7.4) 11.1 de 31.8 d

King Cole FM 110 (6.4) 12.8 cde 41.5 bcd

CB2 RG 112 (7.1) 10.2 e 29.0 d

Cheers AT 114 (5.0) 16.7 a-d 58.2 a

Blue Vantage ST 115 (0.0) 20.1 a 51.4 ab

Bronco BZ 116 (6.0) 17.9 abc 49.3 abc

Royal Vantage SK 116 (2.0) 13.2 b-e 48.9 abc

Blue Pak FM 118 (2.0) 19.1 ab 39.2 bcd

Coleguard HM 121 (1.7) 13.2 b-e 43.3 a-d

LSD(0.05) 6 § §

C.V.(%) 4 28 26

^†See appendix A for seed source codes.
^‡Number in parenthesis is the standard deviation of days to harvest. The higher the number, the more variable the harvest date.
^§Values in the same column followed by the same letter are not significantly different at 0.05 level.

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Table 12. Cabbage head characteristics for the late (slaw market) harvest in the Oakes Irrigation Research Station 1997 cabbage hybrid performance trial.

Hybrid Seed source^† Inside color^‡ Head density^§ Overall score Head Diameter Core

equator polar length width

1 to 3 1 to 3 1 to 10 ---------------- inches --------------

Head Start AS 1.3 2.0 5.3 7.6 7.1 3.6 1.0

Augusta RG 1.1 3.0 9.0 8.4 8.2 4.1 1.3

Gourmet FM 1.0 2.0 6.0 8.1 7.2 4.3 1.1

King Cole FM 2.0 2.0 6.5 8.0 8.1 4.9 1.3

CB2 RG 1.6 2.8 6.8 7.1 7.4 4.7 1.1

Cheers AT 2.0 2.4 6.8 8.8 7.8 3.9 1.3

Blue Vantage ST 1.4 2.3 6.9 8.2 7.6 3.6 1.2

Bronco BZ 1.8 3.0 7.1 7.1 7.0 4.0 1.3

Royal Vantage SK 1.3 2.9 7.8 8.2 7.1 3.7 1.1

Blue Pak FM 1.5 2.8 7.0 6.9 6.4 3.8 1.2

Coleguard HM 1.3 2.5 5.4 7.6 7.0 4.0 1.1

LSD (0.05) 0.6 0.6 1.2 0.9 0.9 NS 0.2

C.V. (%) 27 18 12 8 8 19 10

^†See appendix A for seed source codes.
^‡Inside head color: 1=whitish green; 2=yellow green; 3=light green.
^§Head density: 1 to 3; 1= loose, 3 = solid.

Go to Oakes Irrigation Research Site Variety Performance Trials

Go to Oakes Irrigation Research Site 1997 annual report

Go to Oakes Irrigation Research Site crop index

Go to Oakes Irrigation Research Site home page

Soil:	Maddock sandy loam; pH=7.3; 2.7% organic matter; soil-P and soil-K were very high; soil-S was very low.
Previous crops:	1996 - carrot; 1995 - field corn; 1994 - potato and soybean.
Seedbed preparation:	Disked on May 2. Multiweeded (field cultivated) three times: once on May 5 to incorporate fertilizer; and twice on May 9 to incorporate herbicide.
Planting:	Drilled barley cover crop on May 12 (1 bu/acre, 6-inch rows). Direct seeded cabbage on May 13 with a Stanhay vegetable planter. Seeds were spaced about 7 inches apart in 17-inch rows. Plants were later thinned to 15 inches apart (about 26,000 plants/acre). Seeds were placed about ½ to 3/4 inches deep into a flat, fine seedbed. Sprayed Poast + Dash (1.5 pt/acre + 1 qt/acre) on June 13 to kill the barley cover crop.
Plots:	Main plots were 34 ft long by one row (17 inches) wide. Each main plot was divided into 2, 17-ft long sections. The study had 4 reps.
Fertilizer:	On April 23, broadcast 14 lbs N/acre and 70 lbs P₂O₅/acre as 10-50-0, 16 lbs N/acre and 19 lbs S/acre as 21-0-0-24, and 94 lbs K₂0/acre as 0-0-60. Sprayed 50 lbs N/acre as 28-0-0 on May 5. Fertigated 52 lbs N/acre as 28-0-0 on July 11.
Irrigation:	Overhead sprinkler irrigation as needed.
Pest Control:	Weeds were controlled using Treflan (1 pt/acre applied preplant incorporated on May 9), Dacthal (8 lbs/acre on June 5), Lentagran (2 lbs/acre on June 19), and by hand weeding. Sprayed DiPel (1 lb/acre on July 15, July 21, July 28, Aug 4, Aug 21, and Aug 28) to control cabbage looper and cabbage worm.
Harvest:	One section of each main plot was hand harvested when heads were firm and of marketable size (early harvest). The other section was harvested about two weeks later (late harvest). Cabbage head characteristics were measured on representative cabbage heads selected at each harvest from each plot.

Hybrid	Seed source^†	Days to harvest	Harvest spread^‡	Number of heads	Yield	Overall score	Head shape^§	Head size
		----- days ----		1000s/A	tons/A	1 to 10	1 to 5	lbs
Augusta	RG	94	7	11.5	26.3	7.1	2.9	4.8
Blue Pak	FM	103	11	17.9	29.4	5.7	2.7	3.3
Blue Vantage	ST	100	10	18.8	33.1	4.8	2.4	3.8
Bronco	BZ	100	12	13.2	22.9	6.9	2.8	3.6
CB2	RG	97	8	9.0	14.3	6.4	3.1	3.2
Cheers	AT	99	12	17.5	37.8	5.1	2.2	4.3
Coleguard	HM	104	8	9.0	16.2	5.5	3.2	3.5
Gourmet	FM	95	10	10.2	21.9	5.1	2.5	4.3
Head Start	AS	85	12	11.1	20.3	5.8	3.1	3.8
King Cole	FM	94	13	14.9	28.5	5.2	2.9	3.9
Royal Vantage	SK	100	16	17.1	31.4	5.8	2.8	3.7

LSD (0.05)		4	NS	5.9	9.9	1.0	0.4	NS
C.V.(%)		3	41	30	27	12	10	17

Hybrid	Seed source^†	Days to harvest^‡	Number of heads	Yield
			1000s/acre	tons/acre
Head Start	AS	99 (0.0)	12.8 cde	36.4 bcd
Augusta	RG	108 (3.5)	9.0 e	34.8 cd
Gourmet	FM	110 (7.4)	11.1 de	31.8 d
King Cole	FM	110 (6.4)	12.8 cde	41.5 bcd
CB2	RG	112 (7.1)	10.2 e	29.0 d
Cheers	AT	114 (5.0)	16.7 a-d	58.2 a
Blue Vantage	ST	115 (0.0)	20.1 a	51.4 ab
Bronco	BZ	116 (6.0)	17.9 abc	49.3 abc
Royal Vantage	SK	116 (2.0)	13.2 b-e	48.9 abc
Blue Pak	FM	118 (2.0)	19.1 ab	39.2 bcd
Coleguard	HM	121 (1.7)	13.2 b-e	43.3 a-d

LSD(0.05)		6	§	§
C.V.(%)		4	28	26

Hybrid	Seed source^†	Inside color^‡	Head density^§	Overall score	Head Diameter		Core
Hybrid	Seed source^†	Inside color^‡	Head density^§	Overall score	equator	polar	length	width
		1 to 3	1 to 3	1 to 10	---------------- inches --------------
Head Start	AS	1.3	2.0	5.3	7.6	7.1	3.6	1.0
Augusta	RG	1.1	3.0	9.0	8.4	8.2	4.1	1.3
Gourmet	FM	1.0	2.0	6.0	8.1	7.2	4.3	1.1
King Cole	FM	2.0	2.0	6.5	8.0	8.1	4.9	1.3
CB2	RG	1.6	2.8	6.8	7.1	7.4	4.7	1.1
Cheers	AT	2.0	2.4	6.8	8.8	7.8	3.9	1.3
Blue Vantage	ST	1.4	2.3	6.9	8.2	7.6	3.6	1.2
Bronco	BZ	1.8	3.0	7.1	7.1	7.0	4.0	1.3
Royal Vantage	SK	1.3	2.9	7.8	8.2	7.1	3.7	1.1
Blue Pak	FM	1.5	2.8	7.0	6.9	6.4	3.8	1.2
Coleguard	HM	1.3	2.5	5.4	7.6	7.0	4.0	1.1

LSD (0.05)		0.6	0.6	1.2	0.9	0.9	NS	0.2
C.V. (%)		27	18	12	8	8	19	10