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Experienced gardeners know many subtleties that will help grow an excellent cabbage harvest. One of the most common and rather controversial questions is whether it is necessary to pick off the lower leaves of cabbage. Everyone knows that every friend and neighbor has their own opinion on this matter. Let's see if this point of view is correct.
The role of cabbage leaf
Cabbage is primarily grown for its head. Why then are there covering leaves on the bush? They do not serve as a decoration for cabbage at all. Their role is quite significant. They are the ones responsible for feeding the bush itself. During photosynthesis, this part of the plant is capable of producing certain nutrients that are simply necessary for the growth and development of the head of cabbage.
Those who once tried to cut off the lower shoots know that after some time the vegetation will grow back. This is due to the fact that all the necessary elements were in the torn root vegetation. After they are removed, the bush begins to look for a new source of food. Therefore, many are interested in whether removing the lower leaves of cabbage will harm it?
Also, a lot depends on the number of covering leaves. The head of cabbage itself begins to grow only after at least 7 such leaves appear on the bush.In addition, these shoots have a special wax coating that helps the plant fight pests and various diseases. Such vegetation contains a large amount of vitamin C. Namely, 2 times more than in cabbage itself.
Do I need to pick off the bottom leaves of cabbage?
Despite the listed features of the covering vegetation, many still tear it off. Gardeners claim that thanks to this, the plant spends energy only on the growth of the head of cabbage itself, and not on the lower shoots. In addition, they often rot and spoil the appearance of the bush.
But do not forget that removing leaves is a big stress for the entire plant. By picking just one shoot, you can delay the ripening of the head of cabbage for a whole day, and if you do this constantly, then even longer. From this we see that the covering vegetation of cabbage, especially young ones, cannot be torn off.
But what if the head of cabbage is almost ripe and this will not affect its growth in any way? According to the rules of agricultural technology, such a procedure is not provided for. This is explained by the fact that after removal, open wounds remain on the stem, which often become the source of various diseases.
But there are also many who support the idea that shoots can and should be plucked. The main thing is to do this at a time when the head of cabbage is fully formed. Many claim that after this procedure the head of cabbage becomes denser. It is also important to take into account the condition of such vegetation. If it is green and fresh, then there is no need to remove it.If the shoots began to rot after the rains or dried out, then, of course, it is better to carefully remove such vegetation.
In other cases, it is not recommended to break off shoots, since this may stop the growth of the head of cabbage and the root system will begin to die. Even if the plant does not die, such actions may adversely affect the size and quality of the fruit.
When can you pick off the bottom leaves of cabbage?
But often it is really necessary to pluck off the lower leaves. Experienced gardeners have identified a whole list of cases when it is necessary to pluck off root shoots:
- Cut off in case of vascular bacteriosis.
- Pick to prevent early cabbage heads from cracking.
- As protection against cutworms and cabbage flies.
- How to prevent rotting.
Now everything is in order. If the lower vegetation has become yellow and lifeless, and the surface of the leaves is covered with black veins, then most likely the plant has become ill with vascular bacteriosis. In this case, you need to not only tear off the lower leaves, but also remove the entire plant. If you notice the affected bushes in time and dig them up, you can protect neighboring plants. If you simply tore off the lower vegetation, the disease may continue to spread.
There is an opinion that you need to pick off the lower leaves of cabbage if it is already ripe, but it is not possible to process it right away. Very often, early varieties begin to crack. If you cut off the lower shoots, you can really slow down the growth process. But experts consider this method not the best. They recommend lightly pulling the bush or spinning it. Because of this, the root system will be pulled out and growth will slow down. Thanks to this technique, the plant will be able to remain in the ground for a long time and not crack.
There are pests that settle precisely below the bush. These include the cabbage fly and the cutworm. Armyworm pupae spend the winter in the ground, and when it gets warmer, they crawl out and lay eggs on the bottom of the leaves. In this case, it would be better if you immediately cut off the shoots on which pest eggs were found.
Many people have noticed that if you pick off the lower leaves of cabbage 30 days before harvest, the heads of cabbage will become much denser. This really works, but it's not always necessary. With proper care, the head of cabbage will be dense. Most often, the problem of looseness lies in the improper use of fertilizers. By choosing the right fertilizers in the right quantities, you won’t have to pick off the lower leaves.
Experienced gardeners know one secret that allows them to increase the mass of heads of cabbage. The fastest growth of cabbage is usually observed in late August and September. In one day, the fetus can gain weight up to 100 grams. Often gardeners prefer to tear off root vegetation before starting harvest cabbage. But if you remove the heads of cabbage along with it, the fruit will continue to grow until the entire supply of nutrients is exhausted.
Some experts believe that in the fall the lower vegetation no longer brings any benefit, but only takes away the plant’s strength. Therefore, it is simply necessary to cut off the lower shoots. But this is a rather controversial issue. Still, many gardeners do not notice a significant difference between those heads of cabbage that remained untouched and those from which the lower vegetation was torn off.In addition, the leaves can shade the soil too much, causing large amounts of moisture to accumulate. This can cause rot to appear.
Conclusion
As you can see, it is difficult to give a definite answer to the question of whether it is possible to pick off the lower leaves of cabbage. The opinions of gardeners and specialists differ greatly. Some believe that removing the lower leaves of cabbage is simply necessary to protect the plant from pests and many diseases. In fact, this can only contribute to the spread of bacteria. Everyone must decide for themselves whether or not to cut off shoots. Just remember that they need to be cut off correctly. Intrusive pests can immediately flock to the secreted juice. Therefore, we carefully trim or break off the lower vegetation. And don’t forget that cutting off the vegetation from cabbage should only be done as a last resort. Let your vegetables grow naturally. Still, this is not a decorative crop; it does not have to have an ideal appearance.
