Growing White Cabbage

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

White cabbage is a unique vegetable, in its composition it contains a large amount of vitamins and substances useful for human health. The culture received its origin from wild species growing in the Mediterranean regions of Western Europe and North Africa. The history of cabbage began many thousands of years ago in Ancient Iberia. Later, they learned about this plant in Greece, Rome, Egypt, Transcaucasia and the Balkans. In one of the oldest reference books, compiled in 1076, there was a special section devoted to the use of this vegetable and the rules for its storage

Russia is the second homeland of white cabbage, and today culture is far from the last place in the country's agriculture. It is grown practically throughout the entire territory of the state, but the vegetable is most widespread in the Non-Black Earth Zone and Siberia. It is hard to imagine, but 50% of the entire agricultural area of these regions is allocated specifically for white cabbage.

Growing conditions

White cabbage is a light-loving culture, it prefers well-lit areas. Even with a little shading and excessive planting density, the plants are strongly stretched, affected by various viral and fungal diseases and pests. It is not recommended to plant cabbage under the shade of buildings, trees or tall bushes. It is necessary to observe the optimal distance between plants of a certain variety, otherwise, the harvest will not please its owners with large and tasty heads of cabbage.

The most suitable for growing crops are loamy, moisture-consuming soils, rich in minerals, with a pH of 6, 2-7, 5. In areas with excessive nitrogen content, the quality of cabbage and its shelf life are sharply reduced. The best predecessors of the plant are tomatoes, potatoes, onions, winter crops, annual legumes and pumpkin seeds. It is not advisable to grow cabbage in areas heavily infested with weeds, especially creeping wheatgrass and sow-thistle. Previously, such areas are treated with herbicides, and after two weeks, fall plowing is carried out (to a depth of 27-30 cm).

Growing cabbage seedlings

To a greater extent, the quality of white cabbage seedlings depends on the planting material, growing conditions and timeliness of care. Before sowing, the seeds are treated first in hot water (40-45C) for 15-20 minutes, then in cold water - 1-3 minutes. Experienced gardeners advise not to forget about seed dressing in a weak solution of potassium permanganate or the preparation "Fitosporin-M". Both procedures will subsequently allow to avoid damage to seedlings by various fungi and viruses.

The soil substrate for sowing cabbage is prepared on the basis of peat (75%), sod land (20%) and sand (5%). Instead of peat, you can use well-ripened humus, in this case, the soil substrate is made up of humus (45%), sod land (50%) and sand (5%). Fresh manure and mineral fertilizers should not be used for sowing. The first feeding is carried out when picking seedlings; for this purpose, double superphosphate and wood ash are perfect. The soil mixture is prepared 2-3 weeks before the expected pick.

Seeds of early cabbage varieties are sown for seedlings on March 15-25, mid-season varieties - April 10-20, late varieties - April 20-25 under film or in greenhouses. Sowing is carried out in wooden or plastic boxes filled with soil substrate treated with a solution of the drug "Alirin-B" or "Gamair". In the soil, grooves are made with a depth of 1 cm, where seeds are sown in increments of 1-1, 5 cm, after which they are sprinkled with soil, slightly compacted, watered with a spray bottle, covered with a film and placed in a warm place until shoots appear. The optimum temperature after sowing is 20-25C, after the emergence of seedlings, the temperature is maintained at 10-12C for a week, then 15-17C.

The picking of cabbage seedlings is carried out at the age of 14-15 days. Until the seedlings take root in the room, the temperature is maintained at 20-21C, then the mode is set: during the day - 17C, at night - 9C. Two weeks before planting seedlings in open ground, it is hardened, gradually accustoming it to wind and sunlight. Seedlings of early varieties of white cabbage are planted in the first decade of May, late varieties - in the second or third decade of May.

Soil preparation and planting seedlings in the ground

The site for planting seedlings is prepared in the fall. The soil is carefully dug up, without loosening with a rake. At the same time, organic fertilizers are applied, it can be compost or manure. In the spring, the soil is loosened, fed with mineral fertilizers (superphosphate and potassium salt) and ridges with holes are formed.

It is recommended to plant seedlings on a cloudy day, so it will take root better. The distance between the plants in a row should be about 20-30 cm, and the distance between the rows should be 40-50 cm. The cabbage is deepened to the first leaves. After planting, the plants are watered abundantly from a watering can and shaded for 2-3 days in order to prevent sunburn. By the way, large burdock leaves or cut plastic bottles will do for this purpose.

Care

White cabbage is a plant that requires moisture and needs regular watering. In the first two weeks after planting, the culture is watered with warm water every 2-3 days, this contributes to the best development of the root system, which is extremely important for further growth. The need for moisture increases as new leaves appear, as well as the formation of a head of cabbage. During the ripening of the crop, watering should be limited, since the heads of cabbage can crack from waterlogging.

In addition to watering, they regularly loosen the soil, hilling and weeding weeds, which do not allow the cabbage to develop normally. Top dressing of the culture is carried out 2-3 times per season. The first feeding with liquid cow droppings is carried out 2 weeks after planting, the second - on day 30, the third - with urea and potassium nitrate during the formation of the head of cabbage.

It is also necessary to carry out preventive treatment of plants from diseases and pests. When cruciferous flea beetles, aphids, caterpillars of cabbage whites or scoops are found, the cabbage is sprayed with insecticides (Aktelik, Intavir, Karate, Volaton, etc.).