Contents
Savoy cabbage cannot boast of a record yield, but it is distinguished by increased resistance to negative external influences. Contrary to popular belief, the culture is not characterized by “capriciousness” and demanding care, so it can be recommended to beginner gardeners. However, one cannot do without studying the important nuances of agricultural technology: in particular, you need to know how and when to plant Savoy cabbage for seedlings.
Timing of planting savoy cabbage for seedlings
The timing of sowing depends on the degree of severity of the climate in a particular region and the time it takes for the selected variety or hybrid to ripen heads. In a temperate climate, seeds of early varieties are planted closer to mid-March, mid-season – after 8-10 days, mid-late and late – in early April.
In climatic conditions less favorable for gardening, it will take about two weeks to sow the seeds. In the southern subtropical regions, on the contrary, the dates are shifted back by about the same amount, and landings are started earlier.
Before planting Savoy cabbage for seedlings, it is imperative to study its varietal characteristics.
Planting savoy cabbage for seedlings
In the homeland of culture, the climate is much milder than in Our Country (with the exception of the southern regions). Therefore, gardeners prefer to pre-grow savoy cabbage seedlings at home.
Soil Preparation
Seeds can be planted in universal seedling soil or peat pellets. A self-prepared substrate, combining friability and nutritional value, will also suit her. The easiest option is to mix approximately equally fertile horse turf, peat chips and coarse sand, adding a little sifted wood ash (about 1 tablespoon per liter).
“Homemade” soil must be disinfected. For safety net, you can do the same with the store substrate. The most popular methods are “freezing” on the balcony, “roasting” in the oven, spilling with a solution of potassium permanganate, any fungicide or boiling water.
Store substrate is additionally “enriched” with fertilizers
Capacity selection
In principle, any container is suitable for seedlings of Savoy cabbage. However, it must be taken into account that its seedlings are quite fragile, and any mechanical damage leads to a slowdown in their development or death. Therefore, in order to avoid the picking stage, it is recommended to plant them in individual pots, plastic cups, peat tablets.
When growing a large number of seedlings of Savoy cabbage, seeds are sown in boxes and containers, divided into separate cells.
Seed preparation
Before sowing Savoy cabbage for seedlings, the seeds are checked for germination. To do this, they are poured with “brine” (15-20 g / l). Seeds without a germ are much lighter, so they float to the surface after 7-10 minutes.
Like any cabbage, Savoy cabbage is prone to fungal diseases. For prevention, the seeds are treated with a solution of any fungicide for 15-20 minutes before planting. A pinkish solution of potassium permanganate is also suitable for disinfection, but here the processing time increases to 45-60 minutes.
Only the “colored” savoy cabbage seeds do not need dressing – they have already been treated with fungicides by the manufacturer
Further, in order to accelerate the emergence of seedlings, planting material is soaked for at least 12 hours in a biostimulant solution. Both store preparations (Epin, Heteroauxin) and folk remedies (aloe juice, honey, succinic acid) are suitable.
Biostimulants have a positive effect not only on germination, but also on the overall endurance of plants, the volume and quality of the crop.
Just before sowing, some gardeners practice “shock therapy”. But this is an optional step in the preparation of savoy cabbage seeds. First, they are immersed in hot (15-45 ° C) water for 50 minutes, then put in the refrigerator for a day. Seeds are sown as soon as they dry to a free-flowing state at room temperature.
The scheme of sowing Savoy cabbage for seedlings
If the seeds are planted in common containers, they are placed at a depth of about 1 cm. They are laid out in grooves or individual holes at intervals of 1,5-2 cm. The recommended row spacing is 3-4 cm.
Seeds must be sprinkled with a thin layer of soil, moderately watered
Care of seedlings
Savoy cabbage seedlings do not require any specific care. The conditions of its maintenance also do not differ from those that are necessary for seedlings of other horticultural crops.
Temperature and lighting
Seedlings of Savoy cabbage appear quite quickly and “friendly” – a week after planting or even a little earlier. During this time, they are kept warm (24-28 ° C). In order to prevent temperature fluctuations, the containers are covered with glass, cling film, turning into a “greenhouse”.
In the first week after germination of savoy cabbage seeds, they provide coolness – about 8 ° C at night and no more than 10-12 ° C during the day. This will prevent the seedlings from overstretching. Then the seedlings need more comfortable conditions with virtually no temperature fluctuations: 18-20 ° C in the dark and 20-22 ° C in the daytime.
Until the emergence of seedlings, containers with seeds of savoy cabbage are kept in a dark place. As soon as they germinate, seedlings are provided with daylight hours lasting 12-14 hours. In most regions, natural lighting is not enough, even if you put containers on the windowsill of a window facing south or southeast – this also applies to its intensity and the length of daylight hours.
Therefore, it is necessary to illuminate the seedlings. Special fitolamps are best suited for this, but you can also use fluorescent, LED.
Lamps are placed above containers with savoy cabbage seedlings at a height of 20-25 cm at a slight angle
Watering
Savoy cabbage seedlings will not tolerate either constant waterlogging of the soil or prolonged “drought”. In the first case, fungal diseases develop rapidly (the “black leg” is especially dangerous), in the second, the aerial part turns yellow, withers and dies. Therefore, the substrate must be constantly maintained in a moderately moist state, allowing only the surface layer to dry. Optimal indicators for her: soil moisture at the level of 70-75% and air 80-85%.
Before the emergence of seedlings of Savoy cabbage, the soil is sprayed with a fine spray gun. To reduce the humidity in the “greenhouse”, it is opened daily for ventilation for 7-10 minutes. Seedlings are watered in any way to avoid getting water on the plants. Its drops, like high humidity, dramatically increase the risk of rot.
15-20 minutes after watering, the soil is gently loosened, this contributes to normal air exchange.
Picks
Picking is required only if the Savoy cabbage seedlings are grown in a common container. It is carried out after the formation of one true leaf, using the same substrate as for sowing seeds.
About an hour before picking, the soil in a common container is well spilled with water. Seedlings are removed one by one with a spoon or a special spatula, along with a clod of earth on the roots, trying to touch the plant as little as possible.
In the new container, the seedlings are buried deeper into the ground than before, to the lower (cotyledonous) leaves.
Immediately after picking, seedlings of Savoy cabbage are moderately watered. Until it begins to grow, it is provided with warmth (23-25 ° C) and protection from direct sunlight.
Hardening
Hardening seedlings of Savoy cabbage before planting in the ground greatly facilitates its adaptation to the changed habitat. Seedlings start to grow faster and develop. The procedure takes approximately two weeks.
They start by opening the window for 3-5 hours a day or taking containers with seedlings to a glazed balcony or loggia. Then they are moved to the street during the day, gradually extending the time spent outside the house. In the second week of hardening, they are already left to “spend the night” on the balcony.
Savoy cabbage seedlings spend the last 2-3 days before planting completely outdoors.
Planting seedlings in open ground
Seedlings of early Savoy cabbage are transferred to the garden at the age of 45-50 days, mid- and late-ripening – 35-45 days. By this time, it grows to 12-20 cm in height, has 4-6 true leaves. Approximate dates in a temperate climate are the first days of May and the last ten days of April, respectively.
A place for a bed is chosen in advance, taking into account the requirements of the culture:
- Good illumination in the presence of protection from direct sunlight during the hottest time of the day.
- Access to fresh air with simultaneous protection from cold drafts.
- Soil combining fertility with “lightness” (sandy loam, loam, sod-podzolic soil). The culture will definitely not take root in a clay, silty, sandy or rocky, saline substrate.
- Neutral or slightly acidic soil pH (6.0-7.0).
- Compliance with the rules of crop rotation. Excluded are places where any Brassicas grew last season (other varieties of cabbage, radish, radish, watercress). Suitable predecessors are all spicy greens, Solanaceae, Legumes, onions, garlic.
A bed for Savoy cabbage has been prepared since autumn, carefully digging up, removing vegetable and other debris, and applying fertilizers. Approximately 3-5 days before planting, the soil is once again well loosened, holes are formed, following the placement scheme recommended for this variety or hybrid in the garden. The general rule is 35-40 * 55-60 cm for early ripening varieties and 50-55 * 65-70 cm for mid-season and late.
The approximate depth of the hole is 8-10 cm, but it depends on the quality of the substrate. The “lighter” it is, the more you need to deepen the roots of Savoy cabbage seedlings. Before planting, the hole is well shed with water. If desired, fertilizers are placed at the bottom (about a handful of humus and 1 tsp of complex top dressing for cabbage), as well as folk remedies that repel pests and destroy pathogens (wood ash, onion peel, eggshells).
Seedlings of Savoy cabbage are transferred to the garden by transshipment, along with a clod of soil on the roots. The easiest way is if the seeds were planted in peat pots – the seedlings do not need to be removed from the container.
After filling the holes with soil and compacting it, the seedlings are moderately watered, mulching the bed
Conclusion
Planting Savoy cabbage for seedlings is the choice of the vast majority of gardeners; it is extremely rarely grown by “direct” sowing of seeds into the ground. The procedure as a whole follows the algorithm standard for many cultures, but there are also important nuances that you need to know about in advance, otherwise there is a real risk of losing the future crop already at the seedling stage.
