Nina Beukes, Rijk Zwaan South Africa Product Development Specialist share her insight on the Tacoma RZ F1.
“This remarkable white cabbage variety, that offers growers and consumers a winning combination of outstanding internal characteristics and adaptability to various growing conditions. With its strong plant vigour, attractive head shape, and excellent resistance to diseases, Tacoma RZ F1 sets a standard in cabbage production.”
Nina Beukes, Rijk Zwaan South Africa Product Development Specialist
What Makes Tacoma RZ F1 White Cabbage Different
One of the key strengths of Rijk Zwaan Tacoma RZ F1 white cabbage is its plant vigour. The plants exhibit a large frame, ensuring a sturdy and healthy growth pattern. This characteristic not only enhances the plant’s ability to withstand adverse weather conditions but also promotes efficient nutrient absorption, resulting in high-quality yields.
The blue-green foliage of Tacoma RZ F1 is intensified by its waxy coating, providing an eye-catching appearance. This intensive waxing serves a dual purpose: it enhances the cabbage’s aesthetic appeal and acts as a protective barrier, reducing water loss and preserving moisture within the leaves. This feature is particularly beneficial in regions with hot and humid climates, ensuring the plant’s ability to thrive under challenging environmental conditions.
The head shape of Tacoma RZ F1 offers versatility to cater to the demands of the market. With its flat-round shape, this variety is a flexible choice for various market segments. Whether it’s for individual servings or processing purposes, Tacoma RZ F1 provides a visually appealing option that meets diverse consumer preferences.
The waxy blue-green colour of Tacoma RZ F1’s outer leaves adds to its overall attractiveness. This hue is not only visually pleasing but also serves as an indication of freshness and quality.
In terms of size, Tacoma RZ F1 offers a weight range of 1.5 to 3.5 kg, providing growers and consumers with options suitable for different culinary applications. From individual servings to large-scale fermentation, this weight range ensures versatility and caters to various consumer needs and preferences.
Internally, Tacoma RZ F1 starts with loose, white-yellow, and thin leaves. This internal characteristic makes it an ideal choice for versatile fresh markets and whole-head fermentation. The loose leaves contribute to the cabbage’s tenderness, allowing for easy preparation and consumption. Additionally, the white-yellow color adds an appealing visual contrast to the waxy blue-green outer leaves.
When it comes to cultivation, Tacoma RZ F1 offers growers flexibility and adaptability. The recommended plant densities range from 35,000 to 50,000 plants per hectare, providing options to optimize planting practices. With a growing period of 70 to 85 days, Tacoma RZ F1 allows for year-round planting, with considerations for climate conditions. For those targeting the flat round shape of the cabbage.
Growers can tailor their cultivation practices to achieve the desired internal quality. Tacoma RZ F1 demonstrates impressive resilience against Thrips and bacterial diseases, minimizing the risk of crop loss and ensuring a successful harvest.
The harvesting period of Tacoma RZ F1 extends to the mid and late seasons, providing growers with flexibility in planning and crop rotation. This adaptability allows for optimized yield management and a consistent supply of high-quality produce. Tacoma RZ F1 performs exceptionally well in moderate and subtropical climate areas.
In Conclusion
Tacoma RZ F1 is an outstanding white cabbage variety that offers growers and consumers a winning combination of resilience, versatility, and exceptional quality. Its strong plant vigour, appealing head shape, and internal characteristics make it a top choice for a wide range of market demands. Tacoma RZ F1 sets the bar high for white cabbage varieties, ensuring a high yield harvest and delightful culinary experience. (NO)