Cabbage and Tomato Farming:Best Month to Plant?
Kelvin Wairimu 
Farmers in cabbage and tomato farming often face the tough reality of having to feed cabbage and tomatoes to cows due to a lack of market demand or low prices that result in losses.
Since September 2024, the prices of cabbages and tomatoes have been steadily decreasing, culminating in a low point around February and March 2025.
This trend began to change in May this year when prices started to rise from below sh. 10 per kilo to sh. 60 currently.
Read Also: The best fertilizer for big cabbages and when to apply
The increase in prices is primarily due to low market supply, as much of the produce was damaged by heavy rains.
During visits to various farms, one can see black, defoliated tomato plants with immature fruits—a result of both early and late blight.
The previous six months of low cabbage prices saw the price fall below sh. 10 per piece, which demotivated many farmers. Consequently, only a few farmers chose to plant in February, leading to the current shortage.
Is this really the best time for cabbage and tomato farming?
Many farmers might think that planting now will allow them to profit from the current high prices, but this is not the case. For farmers, planting tomatoes and cabbages at this time may lead to losses. The prevailing market prices are likely to last for only a month or less before they begin to fall again for a month or two.
While heavy rains might continue to push tomato prices up, once the rains subside, prices will begin to decline.
The Best Time to Plant Tomatoes and Cabbages
Farmers interested in planting should consider sowing cabbages at the end of July, targeting a harvest in October and November. Although prices may not be as high as they are currently, they will still be above the average production cost. This timing also allows farmers who plant now and in June to sell their produce in August and September.
Finally, here is the complete guide on how to successfully grow tomatoes and cabbage from seed to harvest.
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