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It is necessary to plant early cabbage for seedlings in 2023 during March - from the beginning to the third decade of the month. You should focus on the timing of transplantation - seedlings are transferred to the ground 60 days after sowing. It is better to grow in cool conditions, regularly watering and feeding the plants.
When to sow early cabbage for seedlings at home in 2023
When choosing the timing of planting seedlings, it is important to take into account that we are talking about early cabbage. Therefore, sowing is planned as early as possible. Work can begin from March 1 to March 25. Moreover, the colder the spring in the region, the later the seeds begin to be sown.
In the middle zone, early cabbage is sown for seedlings already in early March, in the Urals - in the middle of the month, and in Siberia and the Far East - in the second half or third decade. The only exceptions are the southern regions. You can start work here at the end of February.
When choosing the date for planting early cabbage, it is important to take into account that seedlings will appear only after 10 days. From this moment, another 50 days should pass before transplanting into the ground. Thus, the period from sowing the seeds to transferring them to the garden bed will be at least two months (60 days). Usually the transplant is planned for the May holidays. In some regions this is done later - in the second and even third ten days of May.
When to plant early cabbage seedlings according to the lunar calendar 2023
The time for planting early cabbage seeds for seedlings can also be determined using the lunar calendar of 2023. Suitable planting dates for February and March are described in the table.
Seed preparation
Before planting early cabbage seedlings, you need to prepare the seeds. This procedure consists of several stages. First you need to review the grains and remove small, damaged ones. To check their suitability, prepare a saline solution (a tablespoon per 1 liter of water) and immerse the grains for 20 minutes. Those that float to the surface are rejected.
Next you need to carry out disinfection. To do this, prepare a pink solution of potassium permanganate (3 g per 1 l) and place the seeds there for 5 minutes, then wash and dry. Instead, they can be kept for 20 minutes in relatively hot water (no more than 50 degrees).
Seeds are pre-disinfected
The next stage is soaking:
- Place a cotton cloth on the bottom of a flat plate.
- Place the prepared early cabbage seeds.
- Pour water so that it covers the grains by 2 mm.
- Place in a warm place and change the water after 4 hours. You can add a solution of a growth stimulator, for example, Energen, to it.
- Let stand for another four hours and begin sowing.
To do this, place the plate with the cloth in the refrigerator for a day, and then sow it into the ground.
Soil preparation
To properly grow early cabbage seedlings at home, you need to prepare the soil. The soil can be purchased at the store or made independently. There are several options:
- Garden soil with humus and peat. Ratio 1:1:1.
- Peat with rotted sawdust and garden soil. Proportion 3:1:1.
- Peat with humus (3:1).
The soil is prepared in advance. It needs to be disinfected by keeping it in the oven for 20 minutes at a temperature of 100-130 degrees or putting it in the freezer for several days. You can pour a pink solution of potassium permanganate - 3 g per 10 l.
You can use "Rizotorfin", "Nitragin" or "Azotobacterin".
Methods for planting early cabbage seedlings in an apartment
Growing early cabbage seedlings on a windowsill can be done in several ways. All of them are divided into two groups - with and without picking. In the first case, you will have to spend more effort, but you will save space. Moreover, it is worth considering that due to picking, seedlings may be slightly behind in development by about 10 days. To avoid replanting, the seeds are immediately sown in individual containers. It will take more space, but the method is simpler.
Sowing into a snail
A snail is a kind of container that you can make with your own hands using insulating tape. This is a very simple way to grow early cabbage seedlings, which saves space. You need to do this:
- Cut out a ribbon with the following parameters: length 30 cm, width 15 cm.
- Place some soil 2 cm high on it.
- Roll the ribbon into a roll. Place on a tray with wet sawdust.
- Make several holes up to 7 mm deep at intervals of 3 cm.
- Sow two seeds in each hole.
- Sprinkle with soil.
- Cover the top with film with holes.
- Place in a warm, well-lit place for further cultivation.
In cells (cassettes)
You can also plant early cabbage seedlings at home in cells. Stores sell special boxes (cassettes) in which you can grow 50-60 seedlings or even more at once.
Growing in cassettes saves space and simplifies seed sowing
Sequencing:
- Place a layer of drainage, such as sand, 2 cm high.
- Lay fertile soil and water.
- Make a hole up to 7 mm deep in the center of each cell.
- Place seeds and cover with soil.
- Cover with film with holes made and place in a warm, well-lit place.
In peat pots
Peat pots are convenient because they allow you to avoid picking. In addition, they greatly facilitate replanting, since there is no need to remove the seedling - the peat will gradually disperse in the soil, providing the plants with additional nutrients.
Instructions for growing early cabbage seedlings:
- First you need to make holes in the pots to drain water.
- Place sand 2 cm high.
- Place soil and moisten it.
- Make holes 7 mm deep.
- Place seeds (2 pieces each).
- Cover with film with holes and place on a tray in a warm place.
In peat tablets
You can also sow early cabbage for seedlings in peat tablets. They provide the same benefits as peat glasses. An additional advantage is that there is no need to prepare soil, since the tablet already contains the necessary soil mixture.
Growing instructions are as follows:
- Place the tablets in a container with the holes facing up.
- Pour warm water and wait 15 minutes. During this time, the tablets will become wet and increase in volume several times.
- Make holes 5-7 mm deep.
- Plant the seeds.
- Cover with film and put in a warm place.
Seedling care
Caring for early cabbage seedlings is not so difficult. The main condition is to ensure constant humidity, lighting and suitable temperature conditions. The basic rules are described below.
Temperature and lighting
Early cabbage, like other varieties (mid-season, late), prefer cool conditions. First, place the container in a warm place at room temperature. After the shoots appear, remove the protective film and reduce the temperature to +7 degrees. After a week, they are grown at +15 until transplanted into open ground. In recent days, they are taken out into the open air for hardening.
Seedlings are grown in cool conditions
Watering
Early cabbage seedlings need to be watered regularly. First, water is given through a sprayer, and after the shoots appear, a small stream is poured under the root. It is important to ensure that the soil remains moist, but in moderation - excess liquid is not needed. First, the water is left to stand for 8-10 hours at room temperature.
Picking early cabbage seedlings
When growing seedlings in a common container, they need to be planted 10-12 days after emergence. To do this, water the soil, then carefully pull out the seedling so as not to destroy the earthen lump, and transplant it into separate pots. Sprinkle with soil up to the lower leaves and continue to water regularly.
Top dressing
Feeding for early cabbage seedlings is given regularly.To do this, you can use complex fertilizer, for example, “Krepysh”, “Fertika Lux”, “Ideal”. Fertilizer is applied several times:
- 10 days after picking or 20 days after mass germination.
- After the third leaf is formed.
- After the formation of five leaf blades.
- 5-7 days before transplanting into open ground.
Growing early cabbage seedlings in an unheated greenhouse
Sowing early cabbage for seedlings can also be done in a greenhouse, even if it is not heated. In this case, it is important to determine the timing. In the middle zone, work begins in mid-April, in the Urals - in early May. In Siberia, sowing is planned for the latest date - mid-May.
The sequence of actions is as follows:
- Clean the garden bed and dig up the soil.
- Add fertilizer.
- Mark several furrows no more than 1 cm deep at a distance of 10 cm.
- Sow seeds and moisten the soil.
- Cover with plastic wrap.
Next, you need to periodically remove the shelter and water regularly. Shoots will appear in 10-15 days. After some time, weak shoots are pinched. After three leaves appear, fertilize, then fertilize after another three weeks.
The method of growing early cabbage seedlings in a greenhouse is convenient because it saves space in the house. In addition, the seedlings will be more hardened and stronger. They grow normally even in cool conditions - the minimum temperature at night should be 4-5 degrees Celsius.
Planting early cabbage seedlings in open ground
Transplanting seedlings into beds is planned for late April - early May. There is no need to worry about early cabbage - it grows well in cool conditions. As soon as the temperature at night is consistently above zero, you can begin replanting.
Seedlings are planted in a checkerboard pattern
The instructions are:
- Prepare the soil in two weeks: dig up and fertilize with organic matter (compost, humus) in the amount of 8-10 kg per 1 m2.
- Level the surface and mark rows at a distance of 50-70 cm.
- Prepare holes 5-7 cm deep at intervals of 25 cm.
- Two days before transplanting, water the seedlings generously and remove them from the pots by transferring them so that the earthen lump is preserved.
- Sprinkle soil to the bottom pair of leaves, water and mulch.
- If possible, the plants are shaded in the first days, then the shelter can be removed.
Conclusion
In most regions, early cabbage should be planted for seedlings in 2023 in March, and transplanted into open ground at the end of April or in the first half of May. To keep the seedlings healthy, they are cultivated at a temperature of 10-15 degrees. Two weeks before transferring to the ground, they must be hardened, after which they continue to regularly water and feed.
