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Cabbage is a rather fastidious heat-loving crop, which is grown mainly by seedlings. Seeds, depending on the ripening period of a particular variety, can be sown in the ground starting at the end of January. Picking cabbage during the process of growing seedlings is mandatory. You can plant plants in separate containers or so-called diapers. Detailed information on when and how to pick cabbage can be found in this article.
First shoots
In order to cabbage seedlings grew on time and was promptly ready for picking and subsequent planting in the ground, it is necessary to sow the seeds on time. Thus, the ripening period of early varieties of cabbage is approximately 50-60 days.
Thus, Sowing seeds of early varieties of cabbage for seedlings should be done at the end of April. Late-ripening varieties of cabbage, with a ripening period of more than 120 days, must be sown for seedlings in late January - early February.
Growing different types of cabbage, be it broccoli, kohlrabi, Beijing or white cabbage varieties, are carried out according to the same scheme: cabbage seeds are sown in nutritious, moist soil. The container with the crops is covered with protective materials, for example, film or glass, and placed on a surface with a temperature of +20-+220. After the first shoots appear, the protective material should be removed and the containers with cabbage should be placed on a well-lit surface. Caring for crops at this time involves regularly moistening the soil.
In order to understand when to pick cabbage after germination, you need to carefully monitor it. Thus, strong, robust plants can be picked when full-fledged cotyledon leaves appear. In general, cabbage seedlings with one or two true leaves are suitable for picking.
The need to dive
Many novice gardeners are curious: is it even possible to pick cabbage and how advisable is it? In this case, experienced gardeners give a clear answer: of course, you can! After all, a large number of massive cabbage seedlings, soon after emergence, begin to crowd out and shade each other, slowing down or completely stopping their growth. Picking can only be avoided if the seeds were initially planted in separate containers.
Various picking options
Having figured out when to pick cabbage, it’s worth preparing the plants for such an important event. To do this, the seedlings should be thoroughly watered beforehand, since only moist soil can remain in a lump on the root of the plant during a dive.It is convenient to remove cabbage from a common container with a teaspoon or a spatula, which you should also stock up on in advance.
Considering the variety of ways to pick cabbage seedlings, we will try to describe each of them.
Diving into a common container
You can plant cabbage seedlings in a single large container. A shallow basin or balcony flower box is perfect for this. It is necessary to fill the selected container with nutritious soil so that there is 2-3 cm of free space left to the edges. Soil for growing seedlings can be purchased at a specialty store or prepared yourself. So, by mixing garden soil with peat, wood ash and sand, you can get nutritious soil for growing cabbage seedlings. In order to destroy possible pests in the soil, the soil must be treated:
- spill with a weak manganese solution;
- place in the oven at a temperature of +180-+2000C for 30-40 minutes.
Having filled the containers for growing seedlings with nutritious soil, compacted and moistened it, you can begin picking cabbage. To do this, use a teaspoon or spatula (flat stick) to carefully remove the seedling, keeping the soil on the root of the plant. In a new container, use a stick or finger to make a hole in which to bury the seedling down to the cotyledon leaves. The soil must be carefully compacted around the perimeter of the seedling.
When picking cabbage seedlings into a single large container, you should carefully maintain the distance between the plants. So, cabbage seedlings must be planted in a checkerboard pattern, retreating horizontally and vertically at least 8 cm.
Picking into separate containers
You can use separate containers for planting cabbage seedlings.Their diameter must be at least 5 cm.
Plastic cups can serve as separate containers for growing cabbage seedlings. It is imperative to make several drainage holes in their bottom through which excess moisture will be removed. This measure will avoid rotting of the roots.
To fill plastic cups, use the same nutrient soil as when planting cabbage in a single container.
It is worth noting that using plastic cups is not the best option for growing seedlings, since when the seedlings are subsequently planted in the ground for a permanent “place of residence,” it is quite difficult to carefully remove the plants without damaging their roots.
An alternative to plastic cups can be plastic bags, for example, for dairy products. It is easier to remove seedlings from them during subsequent planting in the ground. If necessary, they can be cut, preserving the soil on the cabbage root.
Peat cups
Peat cups are a great option for growing seedlings. Their main advantage is the naturalness of the material: the cup can quickly decompose, becoming organic fertilizer.
To pick cabbage seedlings, you need to use peat cups with a diameter of 5-6 cm. They should be filled with nutritious soil, leaving 1-2 cm of empty space to the edges. The compacted soil in the cup must be watered, then a small hole must be made in its thickness. It is necessary to bury the cabbage seedling into it up to the cotyledon leaves.
When subsequently planting cabbage seedlings in the ground, the peat cup must be embedded in the soil without removing the roots of the seedling from it. This method of picking is the most gentle for seedlings, since the root is not damaged during planting at a permanent place of growth, and the plant itself experiences minimal stress and practically does not slow down its growth.
Picking in a diaper
The technology of growing seedlings in diapers can be used for various crops, including cabbage. The growing technique involves the use of polyethylene flaps, which are ironically called diapers. This original method of cultivation is popular due to the fact that it allows you to significantly save free space. When picking cabbage into diapers, you do not need to occupy all the window sills in the apartment; just one sunny window is enough on which you can place all the cabbage seedlings.
It is worth noting that there are two ways to use diapers for cabbage seedlings, a description of which is given below.
Method 1
To pick cabbage seedlings into diapers, you need to stock up on polyethylene. The film should be thick enough. For example, you can use film to cover a greenhouse.
The thick film needs to be cut into so-called diapers - shreds the size of a notebook sheet. Subsequently, it is in them that the cabbage seedlings will need to be planted. A description of the stages of diving into diapers is given below.
- It is necessary to place the diaper horizontally on the table;
- In the upper left corner of the diaper you need to put a spoonful of moistened, nutritious soil;
- You need to place a cabbage sprout on the ground so that the cotyledon leaves are just above the edge of the film;
- Place another spoonful of nutritious soil on the root of the cabbage;
- The bottom edge of the diaper is turned up;
- Wrap two layers of film with the sprout between them into a roll;
- Place an elastic band on the roll or secure the edge with an adhesive plaster;
- Place the rolls in a common container with a sealed bottom.
The container containing the diapers with cabbage seedlings must be placed on the windowsill on the south side. The temperature for growing cabbage seedlings should not exceed +220C. If there is a lack of natural light, the seedlings must be illuminated with fluorescent lamps.
To water cabbage seedlings in diapers, you should not use water, but a solution of mineral fertilizers. The regularity of watering depends on the humidity in the room and temperature: the soil in the roll should not be dry or excessively wet.
After picking the cabbage with the appearance of 3-4 true leaves, you should unfold it and add another spoonful of soil to the root. When re-rolling the roll, the bottom edge of the polyethylene does not need to be folded. Carefully transfer the seedling in a diaper into a container, holding the bottom of the package so that the soil does not spill out. The seedlings can remain in this state until they are planted in the ground at a permanent growing site.
Method 2
The second method of using diapers allows you to grow cabbage seedlings from seed to 2-3 true leaves.In the future, such plants will need to be planted into separate cups or planted directly into the ground for further cultivation.
Using film diapers for growing seedlings using the second method consists of the following steps:
- Polyethylene must be cut into long strips 10 cm wide;
- A layer of toilet paper should be placed on the diaper;
- Lightly moisten the paper using a spray bottle with water and aloe juice;
- Slightly straighten the paper wrinkled from moisture and place cabbage seeds on it, at a distance of 1 cm from the edge of the diaper. It is necessary to maintain a distance of at least 3 cm between seeds;
- On top of the spread seeds, you need to place another layer of toilet paper and polyethylene;
- The resulting “sandwich” must be rolled up and placed in a container with a sealed bottom, for example, in a disposable cup;
- Pour water into the container so as to wet 2-3 cm of the inner layers of paper;
- Cover the top of the glass with breathable material and place it in a warm place.
In such conditions without soil, cabbage seeds will germinate quite quickly. As soon as the first shoots appear, the plants need to be fed: instead of water, pour a solution of humic acids into the container. Secondary feeding with nutrients should be carried out when the first true leaf appears. Seedlings with 2-3 true leaves are planted in separate containers.
This method of growing has many advantages:
- the package in the cup takes up little space;
- there is no need to buy or prepare nutrient soil;
- plant roots do not get tangled;
- when picking cabbage seedlings, you just need to unroll the roll, remove the top layer of polyethylene and tear off the paper with the sprout inside;
- cabbage seedlings are not at risk of developing blackleg and other fungal diseases;
- germination of seeds is the stage of selecting only viable seeds; diseased or non-germinating specimens are eliminated, but there is no need to waste soil and containers on them.
Unfortunately, along with numerous advantages, this growing method has some disadvantages:
- seedlings grow more slowly than with other growing methods because they receive less light and nutrients;
- intermediate picking of cabbage is required.
A clear example of how to properly sow seeds in a diaper is shown in the video:
Conclusion
A good cabbage harvest can only be obtained if you have healthy, strong seedlings. Growing it is quite simple if you know the simple methods and tricks of cultivation. Some of them are given above in the article. Thus, growing cabbage seedlings in diapers is an original and quite convenient way that will not require much time and will not cause trouble. Planting in plastic wraps will not take up much space and will certainly surprise you with the high germination rate and vigor of the seedlings. There is no definite answer to the question of how to properly plant cabbage seedlings, since each farmer himself chooses the method of growing seedlings, and our task is to share ideas on how this can be done.
