How To Properly Feed Cabbage?

2023 Author: Ava Durham | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 07:50

For us, white cabbage is perhaps the most traditional vegetable culture and the basis of many dishes of Russian cuisine. You cannot cook cabbage soup without cabbage, borscht, hodgepodge, cabbage rolls and much more cannot be cooked either. That is why we grow from year to year heads of cabbage of early, medium and late ripening periods, because each variety has its own culinary purpose. Experienced gardeners know that in order to get a harvest of strong white forks, you need to make some effort and follow agricultural techniques. To help vegetable growers, the Buyskie Fertilizers company offers a Cabbage Nutrition System. What this system is and how to use it, we will tell you in this article.

The Cabbage Nutrition System is a ready-made kit consisting of the fertilizers needed by the crop throughout the growing season. The set includes:

• "Aquamix" - a complex of microelements;
• "WMD - growth" - organic fertilizer;
• "WMD for cabbage";
• "Aquarine for seedlings";
• "Calcium nitrate";
• "Potassium nitrate";
• Vegetable Aquarine;
• "Magnesium sulfate".

Preparing cabbage seeds for sowing

When choosing cabbage seeds, the first step is to pay attention to the timing - they determine the purpose of the forks. The early varieties are great for fresh salads, the mid-season varieties are great for pickling and canning, and the late ones for long-term storage. The timing of sowing cabbage for seedlings directly depends on the ripening period, so sowing takes place in three stages:

• early varieties - from early March to the 3rd decade of the month;
• mid-season - from March 25 to the end of April;
• late - from the beginning to the third decade of April.

Experienced gardeners harden the seeds before sowing - first they are immersed in warm water for 20 minutes (temperature is about + 50 ° C), then - in cold water for 5 minutes. After this procedure, the seeds are soaked in a growth stimulator.

"Aquamix" - a complex of vitamins and microelements is the best suited for these purposes, and will also serve as an excellent prevention of chlorosis and nutritional deficiencies. The seeds are kept for 8-12 hours in a solution of 0.5-1 g per 1 liter of water.

Preparing the soil for planting cabbage

When growing cabbage by seedlings, the soil, or rather its nutritional value, is of particular importance for friendly, strong seedlings. "OMU-growth" is a complex organic-mineral fertilizer created specifically to enrich the soil for seedlings. When preparing the substrate, it is enough to add 50 g of granules per 5-7 liters of soil and mix thoroughly. The balanced composition of macro- and microelements, as well as humic substances included in the "OMU-growth" will provide a quick start and good development of seedlings from the very first days.

If the seeds were sown in a common container, then after the appearance of the first true leaf, the seedlings dive. In this case, the seedlings are removed with a small clod of earth, the root is shortened by 1/3 and seated in cups. This procedure can be avoided by immediately sowing the seeds in separate containers.

Planting cabbage seedlings in open ground

Before planting cabbage seedlings in open ground, the plants are hardened. First, they open the window for 2-3 hours, then take out the seedlings to the balcony or garden, preventing overheating in the sun and gradually increasing the time spent outside. By the time of planting, the seedlings should have 5-7 leaves and be sufficiently hardened.

One to two weeks before planting seedlings on the beds, the plants are fed. At this time, seedlings need a high phosphorus content, and Aquarin for seedlings will be an ideal top dressing. In addition to nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in a ratio of 13:41:13, the fertilizer contains a set of essential nutrients. The balanced composition and the form of substances available to plants increase resistance to diseases and adverse weather conditions. Healthy plants will tolerate planting in open ground and take root faster.

For planting cabbage, they choose a sunny place, where the cruciferous family cultures - radishes, turnips, radishes or other types of cabbage - have not been grown for several years. To prepare the soil in the beds, you can use the organic-mineral complex fertilizer "OMU for Cabbage". This granular fertilizer is created on the basis of low-lying peat with the addition of humic acids, as well as macro- and microelements. The prolonged action and the form of nutrients available for plants will accelerate the survival rate of seedlings, their adaptation to the environment, and also increase resistance to diseases. You can add granules randomly for digging (30 g per 1 m²) or 10-30 g at the edge of the hole.

The planted seedlings should not be left unattended, especially in the first days, until they have taken root. If the weather is sunny and dry, then the bed should be shaded with agrofibre. Within a week, the seedlings will take root and the shelter can be removed. Further care for cabbage is reduced to weeding, feeding, watering, loosening the soil and treating diseases and pests. Timely watering is especially important for cabbage, as the plant is moisture-loving. After planting in open ground, the seedlings are first watered every 2-3 days, followed by loosening. If the soil is mulched, watering can be reduced, and loosening can be completely abandoned. Twice a season, cabbage must be spudded - the first time about 20 days after planting and after 10-12 days repeat the procedure.

Top dressing of cabbage during the growing season

After planting cabbage seedlings in the ground, feeding is not stopped. Further fertilization should ensure good growth, and resistance to diseases and pests, and the setting of strong heads of cabbage, which will ultimately provide an excellent harvest. Therefore, feeding should be thoughtful and timely.

After 10-14 days, making sure that the plants have taken root and started to grow, you can feed the plants using a mixture of "Aquarin Vegetable" 20 g and "Magnesium sulfate" 10 g per 10 liters of water. Seedlings are watered with a solution on wet soil in cloudy weather or in the evening. Nutrient mixture consumption - 1 liter per plant.

The magnesium content in the soil cannot be underestimated, since its role in the development of plants and the formation of the future harvest is enormous. This element is actively involved in the production of enzymes, improves the absorption of phosphorus, nitrogen and calcium, ensures the transport of nutrients to all parts of the plant and, as a result, is responsible for the taste of the fruit.

Two weeks after the first feeding we repeat the procedure, but this time we take in the same way - 20 g of "Aquarin Vegetable" and add 10 g of "Calcium nitrate" (for 10 liters of water). One plant will require about 2 liters of nutrient solution. This top dressing contributes to both the growth of a strong root system and the formation of excellent quality green mass.

We carry out the next feeding again in two weeks. At this time, cabbage, especially late varieties, needs a sufficient supply of potassium. It is this element that will prepare the heads of cabbage for long-term storage. Therefore, this time we use "Aquarin Vegetable" in the same dose - 20 g and add 10 g of "Potassium nitrate" to 10 liters of water. With the growth of cabbage, the consumption of fertilizers also increases, and now it will take 3 liters per plant.

Dear Readers! The Cabbage Feeding System is not just a collection of fertilizers in a convenient container, although the packaging is really convenient. This is precisely the fertilizing system developed by specialists plus a set of fertilizers themselves. Detailed and understandable instructions with a description of the norms, methods and timing of application will allow you to easily provide cabbage with all the necessary nutrients throughout the growing season and get an excellent harvest.