Content
Cabbage is a rather whimsical heat-loving crop, which is grown mainly in seedlings. Seeds, depending on the ripening period of a particular variety, can be sown in the ground starting from the end of January. Pickling cabbage in the process of growing seedlings is mandatory. Plants can be dived into separate containers or so-called diapers. Detailed information on when and how to pick cabbage can be found in the proposed article.
First shoots
In order to cabbage seedlings grew on time and was timely ready for picking and subsequent planting in the ground, it is necessary to sow seeds on time. So, the ripening period of early cabbage varieties is approximately 50-60 days.
Thus, sowing seeds of early cabbage varieties for seedlings should be carried out at the end of April. Late-ripening cabbage varieties, with a ripening period of more than 120 days, must be sown for seedlings in late January - early February.
Growing various types of cabbage, whether broccoli, kohlrabi, Peking or white variety, are carried out according to the same scheme: cabbage seeds are sown in a nutritious, moist soil. The container with 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. Crops maintenance at this time consists in regular soil moistening.
In order to understand when to dive after sprouting cabbage, you must carefully observe it. So, strong, sturdy plants can be dived when full-fledged cotyledon leaves appear. In general, cabbage seedlings with one or two true leaves are suitable for diving.
The need to dive
Many novice gardeners are curious: is it possible, in general, to dive cabbage and how appropriate is it? In this case, experienced gardeners give an unambiguous answer: of course you can! After all, a large number of massive cabbage seedlings, soon after the emergence of seedlings, begin to displace and shade each other, slowing down or completely stopping their growth. It is possible to avoid picking only if the seeds were originally planted in separate containers.
Various picking options
Having figured out when to dive cabbage, it is worth preparing the plants for such an important event. To do this, the seedlings should be thoroughly watered first, since only moist soil will be able to keep a lump on the root of the plant during the dive. It is convenient to get cabbage out of the common container with a teaspoon or a spatula, which should also be stocked up in advance.
Given the variety of ways to pick cabbage seedlings, we will try to describe each of them.
Diving into the general tank
You can dive cabbage seedlings into 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 2-3 cm of free space remains to the edges. The soil for growing seedlings can be purchased at a specialized store or prepared by yourself. So, by mixing garden soil with peat, wood ash and sand, you can get a 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 an oven with a temperature of + 180- + 2000C for 30-40 minutes.
Having filled the containers for growing seedlings with nutritious soil, having compacted and moistened it, you can start picking cabbage. To do this, use a teaspoon or a spatula (flat stick) to carefully remove the seedling, keeping the soil at the root of the plant. In a new container, you should make a fool with a stick or finger, into which the seedling should be buried until the cotyledon leaves. It is necessary to carefully compact the soil around the perimeter of the seedling.
When picking cabbage seedlings into a single large container, the distance between the plants should be carefully observed. So, cabbage seedlings must be dived in a checkerboard pattern, retreating horizontally and vertically at least 8 cm.
Diving into separate containers
Separate containers can be used for diving cabbage seedlings. Their diameter must be at least 5 cm.
Plastic cups can be used as separate containers for growing cabbage seedlings. In their bottom, it is imperative to make several drainage holes through which excess moisture will be removed. This measure will avoid root decay.
To fill plastic cups, use the same nutrient soil as when planting cabbage in a single container.
It is worth noting that the use of plastic cups is not the best option for growing seedlings, since when the seedlings are subsequently transplanted into the ground at their permanent "residence", it is quite difficult to carefully remove the plants without damaging its roots.
An alternative to plastic cups can be plastic bags, for example from dairy products. It is easier to remove seedlings from them during subsequent planting in the ground. If necessary, they can be cut, keeping the soil on the root of the cabbage.
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 an organic fertilizer.
For picking cabbage seedlings, it is necessary 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 a glass must be watered, then a small hole must be made in its thickness. It is necessary to bury the cabbage seedling into it to the cotyledonous leaves.
With the subsequent planting of 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 diving is the most gentle for seedlings, since the root is not damaged during planting in a permanent place of growth, and the plant itself experiences minimal stress and practically does not slow down its growth.
Diaper dive
The technology of growing seedlings in diapers can be used for various crops, including cabbage. The cultivation technique involves the use of plastic rags, which are ironically called diapers. This original cultivation method is popular due to the fact that it significantly saves 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 cabbage seedling diapers, which are described below.
Method 1
To pick cabbage seedlings into diapers, you need to stock up on polyethylene. The film must be thick enough. For example, you can use a film to cover a greenhouse.
The thick film must be cut into so-called diapers - shreds the size of a notebook sheet. Subsequently, it is in them that cabbage seedlings will need to dive. 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 must put a spoonful of moistened, nutritious soil;
- Put a cabbage sprout on the ground in such a way that the cotyledon leaves are just above the edge of the film;
- Put another spoonful of nutritious soil on the root of the cabbage;
- The bottom edge of the diaper is tucked up;
- Wrap two layers of film with a sprout between them in a roll;
- Put an elastic band on the roll or fix the edge with adhesive plaster;
- Place the rolls in a common container with a sealed bottom.
The container in which the diapers with cabbage seedlings are made must be placed on the windowsill on the south side. The temperature for growing cabbage seedlings should not exceed +220C. With a lack of natural light, the seedlings must be illuminated with fluorescent lamps.
For watering cabbage seedlings in diapers, you should use not water, but a solution of mineral fertilizers. The regularity of watering depends on the humidity in the room and the 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 and add another spoonful of soil to the root. When re-folding the roll, the bottom edge of the polyethylene does not need to be tucked up. Carefully transfer the seedling in the diaper to the container, holding the bottom of the package, so that the soil does not spill out. In this state, the seedlings can be up to the moment they are planted in the ground at a permanent growing place.
Method 2
The second method of using diapers allows you to grow cabbage seedlings from seed up to 2-3 true leaves. In the future, such plants will need to dive into separate cups or dive directly into the ground for further cultivation.
The use of film diapers for growing seedlings in the second way consists of the following steps:
- Polyethylene must be cut into long shreds 10 cm wide;
- A layer of toilet paper should be placed on the diaper;
- Lightly moisten the paper from a spray bottle with water and aloe juice;
- Slightly straighten paper wrinkled from moisture and put 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 the 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 that 2-3 cm of the inner layers of paper are moistened;
- Cover the cup with breathable material on top and place it in a warm place.
In such conditions, without soil, cabbage seeds will germinate quickly enough. As soon as the first shoots appear, the plants must be fed: instead of water, pour a solution of humic acids into the container. Secondary feeding with a nutrient must be carried out when the first true leaf appears.Seedlings with 2-3 true leaves are dived into separate containers.
This method of growing has a lot of advantages:
- the bundle in the glass takes up little space;
- there is no need to buy or harvest nutrient soil;
- plant roots are not confused;
- when picking cabbage seedlings, you just need to unfold the roll, remove the top layer of polyethylene and tear off the paper with the sprout inside;
- cabbage seedlings do not risk getting sick with black leg and other fungal diseases;
- germination of seeds is a stage of selecting only viable seeds, painful or non-viable specimens are sifted out, but at the same time they do not need to waste soil and containers.
Unfortunately, along with numerous advantages, this growing method has some disadvantages:
- seedlings grow more slowly than with other growing methods, since they receive less light and nutrients;
- an intermediate dive of cabbage is required.
An illustrative example of how to properly sow seeds in a diaper is shown in the video:
Conclusion
A good harvest of cabbage can only be obtained with healthy, strong seedlings. It is quite easy to grow it if you know the simple methods and tricks of cultivation. Some of them are given above in the article. So, growing cabbage seedlings in diapers is an original and fairly convenient way that does not take much time and does not cause trouble. Planting in plastic diapers will not take up much space and will certainly surprise you with high germination and seedling strength. There is no definite answer to the question of how to dive cabbage seedlings correctly, since every farmer chooses the method of growing seedlings himself, and our task is to share ideas on how this can be done.
