Planting cabbage in open ground with seedlings

Planting cabbage: briefly about cabbage

In nature, there are several types of cabbage that are planted as seedlings. Representatives of these species are broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Peking cabbage, white cabbage, cauliflower, red cabbage. On the territory of our country, cabbage is grown in the north and in the central part, the cultivation and care techniques are the same. Planting cabbage should be done in accordance with the weather conditions in the future growing region.

Cabbage is a cold-resistant plant, young plantings can withstand a slight minus, especially the Savoyard species. White cabbage also tolerates light frosts normally. For food in the summer, the early species are usually grown, the later ones are suitable for salting and long storage.

Planting cabbage: planting in the ground

Like any plant, cabbage needs a pre-prepared soil. At the future planting site, no cruciferous plants should have grown for at least three years. Crucifers are not only cabbage, but also various types of radish. This family is most susceptible to soil insects; it is necessary to weed the beds. It is necessary to prevent stagnation of water and choose well-lit areas.

Various trace elements are important for cabbage, it will be better if they are located directly in the soil, they can be replaced with organic fertilizers. If the soil is not fertile enough, a mineral containing fertilizers is applied, with phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium. Loose soils, neutral in acid content, are best suited; such soil can be prepared by adding limestone.

Curious! It is good to plant cabbage after growing legumes, onions or cucumbers.
To destroy the fallen earth, the soil must be loosened and leveled.
The holes are made in advance, in a checkerboard pattern, so the plant will have more space. Between plantings should not be less than half a meter, but planting too far is also not recommended.
If you are planting a Peking species, the distance between the plants should not exceed thirty centimeters.
The holes are prepared individually for each sprout, watered and planted. Then they cover it with earth and tamp it.

Determining the correct disembarkation period

It all depends on the type of cabbage. As a rule, the time for planting on the garden varies between thirty and forty-five days and is indicated on the seed package. Seedlings are sown in mid-spring (early varieties) and at the end of April (late). Planting grown seedlings into the ground is carried out when the ground has already warmed up, usually in mid-May, but it all depends on environmental conditions.

In some regions, minor frosts may return in May, it would be better to prepare in advance and build a special shelter. This can be done from iron arcs and woven material. This structure will be useful not only for protection from natural conditions, but will also help with the attack of some pests.

Planting cabbage: growing seedlings at home

Seeds of different types of cabbage are sold in specialized stores. If the seeds have a production multi-colored shell, then they already contain the necessary trace elements and the soil does not need additional fertilization before planting. Such seeds are not soaked.

They also sell ordinary seeds that have a brown tint, such and homemade seeds must be disinfected before planting. This will help prevent some diseases, sometimes the pathogen can remain inside the seed. It is recommended to soak the seeds in a solution of cherry-colored potassium permanganate - protection against black leg, a dangerous disease that can destroy all seedlings.

Another solution of permanganate will help to avoid vascular bacteriosis. It is necessary to mix potassium permanganate with water, the temperature of which does not exceed fifty degrees (you can hold your hand in it for a few seconds). Then the seeds must be washed and possibly left for some time in a solution containing nitrogen / phosphorus / potassium.
There is another way to awaken the seeds - inside a gauze bag, they must be immersed in hot water for fifteen minutes, then for three or four in cool.
Before planting seeds in seedling containers, they must be grown in a damp cloth in a warm place. When the shoots appear, they can be transplanted into special places for this.
Sprouted seeds are planted strictly one at a time in the designated place!

Suitable soil mix

The soil intended for seedlings should be neutral and fertile. The ideal soil consists of wood ash, fertile soil and peat in a one-to-one-to-one ratio. Gardeners add ash even to special purchased land; peat can be replaced with humus. Half a liter of ash is mixed with the soil mixture. Cabbage needs drainage, sand can play its role. It is also necessary to fertilize the soil and the plant with minerals, it is important to observe the correct dosage so that the plants do not die.
Before fertilizing the soil and planting seeds, the soil must be disinfected. This can be done with a hot solution of potassium permanganate or phytosporin.
It is better to dive cabbage seeds, but this is not necessary.

Soil and seed stratification

Before planting seeds, the soil in the container is leveled and trampled. For sowing, it is required to make half-centimeter grooves at a distance of at least three centimeters. it is recommended to simply distribute the seeds on the paths and sprinkle with soil, without pressing them inward. If you are planting cabbage in a large box, you should not plant the seeds too close. If planting takes place in separate pots, several seeds can be placed in the hole. The soil should always be moistened when planting seeds; when dry, you can spray from a sprayer.

Once you have sown the seeds, it is better to cover them with polyethylene, the closed pots are left in warm places and periodically ventilated. On average, the seeds should germinate four times after sowing, as soon as the sprouts appear, the film must be removed, and the seedlings should be transferred to a well-lit place. If the seedlings are overheated, it will grow quickly, but in the future the seedlings will not be of very high quality.

Picking

Cabbage dives at the moment the cotyledon leaves appear. The picking contributes to the correct and good growth of the root system, despite this procedure, only the strongest shoots will be able to transfer the transplant.
Most types of cabbage, in addition to cauliflower, grow well at low temperatures, about seven degrees. When the sprouts begin to straighten, it will be better to transfer the seedlings to a cool room. It is better to water cabbage from above, and not just near the roots.

Seven days before planting in the ground, the seedlings must be hardened. You should expose the plant to light, bring it to oxygen and periodically change the temperature of the surrounding shift, that is, imitate real natural conditions.
Transplanting to the beds is carried out after five to six full-fledged leaves have grown, sometimes with the onset of real warm weather, usually towards the end of May.

Correct disembarkation and care

Cabbage is almost always grown from seedlings. When sowing different types of cabbage, it is best to label the seedlings to prevent confusion.Certain types of cabbage require different growing temperatures. White cabbage cannot grow at normal room temperature, unlike cauliflower, which is ideal for growing.

When transplanting cabbage, the seedlings must be removed along with a lump of soil on them, help yourself with a shovel to make it easier. As mentioned above, transplanting is quite traumatic, the better the roots are preserved, the faster the plant will take root. You should be careful, plants may die.

It is possible to sow seeds directly into the ground, this must be done at the junction of April and May. Throughout the growing season, the plant will be in one place, this is a definite plus of this method. Also, when sowing directly on the beds, cabbage takes root and hardens better. Several seeds are placed in each hole; only the strongest sprout must be left. For safety reasons, the seeds can be closed on top with the top of the bottles or cans, then the beds are covered with mini greenhouses made of arches and fabric.
Important! When planting seedlings, the gardener knows the percentage of seed germination, this is a more profitable way.

Planting cabbage: preventive measures in the fight against insect pests

To prevent the attack of pests, the soil must be properly treated, and the plants must be periodically sprayed. Early varieties of cabbage are sprayed mainly with folk mixtures, for example, solutions of tobacco dust, wood ash, sometimes pepper, mixtures using ammonia. These actions are performed in the early morning hours. To prevent winged pests from flying between the cabbages, you can plant strong-smelling plants (garlic, sage, and so on). To protect against butterflies, you can hang eggshells between the rows of the beds.

To protect late varieties, insecticides are used.
Three weeks after planting, it is necessary to spud the cabbage. They take care of the loosening plantings and watering them in the correct mode. Excess moisture should not be allowed, this can adversely affect plants.
Cauliflower must be planted in a small shady area to form the characteristic white heads of cauliflower. If you plant it under the sun, the color may change to purple or yellow. You can create a shadow using the connected leaves of the plant itself.

One way to grow well is with sidets and root mulching. Before the start of warming, sidets are planted on the beds, before the cabbage is planted, the grass is planted and a hole is dug. With this method of planting, it is not necessary to loosen the soil and huddle the plant.

Early varieties usually ripen by June, later ones until the beginning of cold snaps. It is important to dig up the cabbage immediately after it is ripe, the overripe fruit may crack or some species change color.

Conclusion

As a result, we can say that the quality and health of cabbage depends on a sufficient number of factors, but if you spend a lot of energy during its cultivation, then you will not regret it.