2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Every vegetable grower in his practice faced cracking of white cabbage forks. The phenomenon is widespread, rather dangerous. Naked slugs climb into the cracks, eating up the crop. Bacterial diseases colonize the lesions, forming rot. Why do heads of cabbage crack?
Fork cracking factors
First, let's figure out the reasons:
1. Prolonged rainy weather, after a prolonged drought.
2. Uneven watering.
3. Being late with the harvest.
4. Significant temperature changes.
5. Violation of landing dates.
After a long period of abstinence from water, heavy rains begin. Moisture in large quantities enters the cells of the plant. They do not have time to process it, the cell membrane ruptures. In tender young inner leaves, the membrane is thinner and more receptive. Therefore, they are damaged faster than the old outer cells. The head of cabbage is torn from the inside.
Sharp temperature fluctuations affect crop growth. At readings below 18 degrees, it slows down. A jump above 25 degrees provokes young leaves to grow actively. The bulging of the head of cabbage from the inside provokes a rupture of the upper cover plates.
Early planting of mid-season cabbage in early May leads to its premature ripening, cracking of heads.
Early varieties, after full readiness, can stand in the garden for no more than 2 weeks, medium ones - 3 weeks. If one head of cabbage has cracked, the whole batch should be removed or preventive measures should be taken as far as possible in this situation. Otherwise, the process will gradually take over all instances.
Prevention measures
In fact, when the head of cabbage is cracked, it is useless to take measures to save the harvest. You can take preventive measures:
1. Water the plants evenly.
2. Harvest on time.
3. Reduce the influence of unfavorable factors to a minimum.
4. Provide drainage of excess water.
5. Do not force the landing dates.
6. Choose hybrids that are relatively resistant to cracking.
7. Mulching the soil.
8. Slight root damage.
Many vegetable growers visit the country only on weekends, so watering is spontaneous, rare. For such cases, there are automatic drip systems that help plants survive the "work week" without problems.
For a simple homebrew option, use plastic bottles buried with the neck up next to each plant. At a distance of 3 cm from the bottom, holes are pierced with an awl. The amount depends on the type of soil, moisture-loving culture. More holes are pierced on loams, less on sandy loams.
The container is buried to a depth of 10-15 cm closer to the roots. A small hole is made in the lid for air outlet. Pour a full bottle of water, screw on the cap. Five-liter tanks are enough for 4-5 days.
Mulching the soil with sawdust, leaf litter, peat, grass cuttings will close the evaporation of moisture. Compliance with the terms of planting, harvesting will have a positive effect on the quality of products.
It is more rational to plant small plantations in beds with arches. In the event of heavy rains, a film is put over the crop, and in the heat, it is shaded with non-woven material. In this way, temperature and humidity are regulated.
Damaging the roots slightly by twisting the cabbage a quarter circle and then back again will help break individual roots. The flow of moisture and nutrients to the head of cabbage will decrease, and growth will slow down. Forks will crack less. Chopping down the roots on one side with a shovel has the same effect. This technique is especially relevant for mid-season varieties, when it is necessary to wait for a cold snap. It is believed that after the first frost, cabbage accumulates more sugars, which are necessary for the correct fermentation process.
Knowing the reasons for the premature cracking of the white-headed "beauty", you can easily cope with this phenomenon with preventive methods. Save the harvest, increase the quality of the finished product.
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