Picking cabbage at home

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 from the end of January. Picking 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 for cabbage seedlings to grow on time and be ready for picking and subsequent planting in the ground in a timely manner, it is necessary to sow the seeds on time. So, the ripening period of early varieties of cabbage is approximately 50-60 days.

In this way, sowing seeds of early varieties of cabbage for seedlings should be carried out at the end of April. Late-ripening varieties of cabbage, with a ripening period of more than 120 days, must be sown for seedlings in late January – early February.

Cultivation of various types of cabbage, whether it be broccoli, kohlrabi, Beijing or white cabbage, is carried out according to the same scheme: cabbage seeds are sown in nutritious, moistened 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 containers with cabbage should be placed on a well-lit surface. Care of crops at this time consists in regular moistening of the soil.

In order to understand when to dive cabbage after germination, it is necessary to carefully observe it. So, strong, strong plants can dive 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 expedient is it? In this case, experienced gardeners give an unequivocal answer: of course you can! After all, a large number of massive cabbage seedlings soon after germination begin to displace and obscure each other, slowing down or completely stopping their growth. Picking can be avoided 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 well watered beforehand, since only moist soil can hold a lump on the root of the plant during a dive. It is convenient to get cabbage from a common container with a teaspoon or 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.

Dive into a common tank

Cabbage seedlings can be dived into a single large container. For this, a shallow basin or a balcony flower box is perfect. It is necessary to fill the selected container with nutrient 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 independently. So, by mixing garden soil with peat, wood ash and sand, you can get nutritious soil for growing cabbage seedlings. In order to destroy possible pests in the soil, the soil must be processed:

• shed with a weak manganese solution;
• place in an oven with a temperature of + 180- + 200⁰C for 30-40 minutes.

After filling the containers for growing seedlings with nutrient soil, compacting and moistening it, you can start picking cabbage. To do this, carefully remove the seedling with a teaspoon or spatula (flat stick), keeping the soil on the root of the plant. In a new container, you should make a fool with a stick or a finger, into which the seedling should be deepened to the cotyledon leaves. Around the perimeter of the seedling, it is necessary to carefully compact the soil.

When picking cabbage seedlings into a single large container, the distance between plants should be carefully observed. So, cabbage seedlings must be dived in a checkerboard pattern, retreating horizontally and vertically by at least 8 cm.

Picking into separate containers

Separate containers can be used for diving seedlings of cabbage. Their diameter must be at least 5 cm.

Plastic cups can act 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 will help prevent root rot.

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 during the subsequent planting of seedlings in the ground for a permanent “residence”, it is quite difficult to carefully remove the plants without damaging their 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 pots are a great option for growing seedlings. Their main advantage is the naturalness of the material: the glass 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 nutrient soil, leaving 1-2 cm of empty space to the edges. The compacted soil in the cup must be watered, then a small hole should be made in its thickness. It is necessary to deepen the cabbage seedling into it to the cotyledon leaves.

During 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 to a permanent place of growth, and the plant itself experiences minimal stress and practically does not slow down its growth.

Pick in a diaper

The technology of growing seedlings in diapers can be used for various crops, including cabbage. The growing technique involves the use of polyethylene flaps, which are ironically called diapers. This original method of cultivation is popular due to the fact that it can significantly save free space. When picking cabbage in 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 seedlings of cabbage.

It is worth noting that there are two ways to use cabbage seedling diapers, the description of which is given below.

1 method

To pick cabbage seedlings into diapers, you need to stock up on polyethylene. The film must be sufficiently dense. For example, you can use a film to cover a greenhouse.

A dense film must be cut into so-called diapers – shreds the size of a notebook sheet. Subsequently, it will be in them that cabbage seedlings will need to dive. The description of the stages of diving into diapers is given below.

1. It is necessary to place the diaper on the table horizontally;
2. In the upper left corner of the diaper, you need to put a spoonful of moistened, nutritious soil;
3. On the ground you need to lay out a cabbage sprout so that the cotyledon leaves are just above the edge of the film;
4. Put another spoonful of nutrient soil on the cabbage root;
5. The bottom edge of the diaper is tucked up;
6. Wrap two layers of film with a sprout between them into a roll;
7. Put an elastic band on the roll or fix the edge with adhesive tape;
8. Place the rolls in a common container with a sealed bottom.

The container in which the diapers with cabbage seedlings are made up 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, seedlings must be illuminated with fluorescent lamps.

For watering cabbage seedlings in diapers, you should not use 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.

Cabbage after picking with the appearance of 3-4 true leaves should be unfolded and one more spoonful of soil should be added to the spine. When refolding the roll, the lower edge of the polyethylene does not need to be tucked. Gently transfer the seedling in a diaper to a container, holding the bottom of the bundle so that the soil does not spill out. In this state, seedlings can be up to the moment of planting in the ground at a permanent place of cultivation.

2 method

The second method of using diapers allows you to grow cabbage seedlings from seed 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:

1. Polyethylene must be cut into long shreds 10 cm wide;
2. Put a layer of toilet paper on the diaper;
3. Lightly moisten the paper from a spray bottle with water with the addition of aloe juice;
4. Straighten the paper wrinkled from moisture slightly and put cabbage seeds on it, at a distance of 1 cm from the edge of the diaper. Between the seeds it is necessary to maintain a distance of at least 3 cm;
5. On top of the spread out seeds, you need to place another layer of toilet paper and polyethylene;
6. The resulting “sandwich” must be rolled up and placed in a container with an airtight bottom, for example, in a disposable cup;
7. Pour water into the container so as to moisten 2-3 cm of the inner layers of paper;
8. Close the top of the glass with breathable material and place in a warm place.

In such conditions, without soil, cabbage seeds will germinate quickly enough. As soon as the first shoots appear, the plants need to be fed: instead of water, pour a solution of humic acids into the container. Secondary feeding with a nutrient should be carried out when the first true leaf appears. Seedlings with 2-3 true leaves dive into separate containers.

This method of cultivation has many advantages:

• a bundle in a glass takes up little space;
• there is no need to buy or prepare 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 black leg and other fungal diseases;
• germination of seeds is a stage of selection of only germinating seeds, diseased or non-germinating specimens are sifted out, but at the same time they do not need to spend soil and containers.

Unfortunately, along with numerous advantages, this method of growing has some disadvantages:

• seedlings grow more slowly than with other growing methods, because they receive less light and nutrients;
• intermediate cabbage dive is required.

A good example of how to properly sow seeds in a diaper is shown in the video:

Conclusion

A good cabbage crop can only be obtained if there are healthy, strong seedlings. Growing it is quite simple if you know the simple ways and tricks of cultivation. Some of them are listed above in the article. So, growing cabbage seedlings in diapers is an original and quite convenient way that does not require much time and does not cause trouble. Planting in plastic diapers will not take up much space and will surely surprise you with high germination and seedling strength. There is no single answer to the question of how to dive cabbage seedlings correctly, since each farmer chooses the method of growing seedlings himself, and our task is to share ideas on how this can be done.