POSSIBILITIES OF MARKETING AND TRENDS IN CONSUMER DEMANDS FOR NEW VEGETABLES, IN PARTICULAR CHINESE CABBAGE, IN TURKEY

Production of grain crops has first place in agriculture in which wheat growing has the most important part in Turkey. The sowing of wheat takes place in October and the harvest is in July. After wheat there is no second crop. So 50,000 ha of irrigated land in Tokat remains empty during the fall and winter months. Nevertheless Chinese cabbage seems to become a suitable crop filling this non-crop period in this region of Turkey.

Introduction of Chinese cabbage to Turkey has been stimulated recently. As a new vegetable for Turkish people Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L ssp pekinensis (lour) Olsson) cultivation was also initiated at the first time in Tokat Region of Turkey. In order to produce it experimentally seed samples of more than 137 cultivars have been imported and tested for adaptation in Tokat Area since 1985. In order to determine times of seed sowing and seedling transplanting, seeds of each cultivar have been sown every month of the year. Seedlings and plants of Chinese cabbage were manured by applying necessary fertilizers and were protected against pests and diseases by spraying them with suitable pesticides.

Results of these experiments showed that some cultivars were found suitable for commercial production in Tokat Region of Turkey. These cultivars were: B-40, Victory 60-, 65- and 70 F₁. The highest yield of 100 tons/ha was obtained at the planting date of first August. So it is possible to grow Chinese cabbage as the second crop after the first crop of wheat in one season. Beside this late summer cropping seed sowing dates after February 20 can provide satisfactory spring cropping of Chinese cabbage.