Before planting cabbage seedlings, be sure to choose a sunny location and use friable, well-draining soil. You can also amend the soil with compost before planting. Cabbage seedlings should be planted in rows about 24 to 36 inches apart. They will initially be small, but will eventually grow into a dense, leafy mass throughout the growing season.
Fertilize cabbages 2 weeks after transplanting
Fertilizing cabbages is a key component of the growing process. It is best to start fertilizing them at least two weeks after transplanting. The first fertilization should be a slow release fertilizer, followed by a nitrogen-rich fertilizer about a month later. Fertilizers should be applied every two to three weeks, according to the directions on the package.
When determining how much fertilizer to use, you can use a soil test kit. This is a good idea since cabbages need a pH between 6.0 and 6.5. You also want to provide the plants with all of the macronutrients they need. These nutrients are found in organic materials like compost, so you want to make sure you add enough of them.
Once the seedlings are five inches tall, thin them and transplant them to another part of the garden. When transplanting, the soil temperature should be between 60 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Young plants that are exposed to temperatures below this will develop loose heads. You should also consider covering the plants if you are expecting cold weather. After transplanting, you can fertilize cabbages with a nitrogen-rich, balanced fertilizer. Fertilizing cabbages will help prevent soilborne diseases.
To fertilize your cabbages, use OMRI-certified Cabbage fertilizer. It contains an NPK ratio of 12 to 0-0, which will provide the proper nutrition. This fertilizer also helps prevent diseases and water stress.
Thin young seedlings
Cabbage plants grow quickly. You should put them under grow lights as soon as possible. After the plants have sprouted, thin them to about four inches apart. They should be kept well-watered. The optimum soil temperature for growth is 60 to 65degF. However, young plants can bolt if the temperatures are lower than that. It is also important to cover the young plants to protect them from cold weather. Fertilize the plants with a balanced fertilizer that is rich in nitrogen. In addition, crop rotation can help you prevent soil-borne diseases.
If you have seedlings of cabbage, thin them at about two to three inches in height. This will avoid disturbing other seedlings. Also, pulling seedlings by the stem is easier than cutting them. You can thin them during the evening when the temperature is cool. This will allow the remaining seedlings to adjust to their new position.
You can plant early and midseason cabbage indoors between mid-March and early May. Mid-season cabbages should be transplanted one month before the last frost date. If you have a warm climate, you can plant late varieties in June or July. You should thin young seedlings for planting cabbage after they have three or four adult leaves.
After harvesting, you can store the harvested cabbage in a plastic bag. It keeps well for a few weeks in the refrigerator. It can be used in soup, salads, and cabbage rolls. You can also use it for sauerkraut or kimchi.
Avoid club root
Clubroot is a fungal disease that attacks cabbage and other crucifer crops. It destroys the roots of the plant and causes it to fail to grow and mature. Once established, it can be difficult to control. The primary symptoms are yellowing leaves and small knots on the roots. The infection is spread by spores that are released into the soil.
The fungus that causes clubroot infects the roots of the plant, causing them to become clubbed and swollen. The distorted roots become unable to absorb water and nutrients. The pathogen forms thick-walled spores that are released into the soil as the roots break down. Infected plants will lose their color and will die.
To control clubroot, gardeners should improve soil drainage. Also, they should avoid plowing the soil, as this may bury debris that contains the disease spores. It is also important to avoid feeding animals to the residue left on the fields after harvesting. Another way to avoid clubroot is to rotate crops, allowing three years between susceptible brassicas.
In Alberta, clubroot was added as a declared pest in April 2007. The Minister of Agriculture and Food is responsible for implementing the APA. However, local policies may change periodically, so it is important to check the current status of clubroot in your area. You can also contact your local Ag Service Board or Agricultural Fieldman for more information.
Mulch young plants
Mulching young plants when planting cabbage is an easy way to protect them from wind and the elements. A good mulch is made from organic materials such as kitchen and yard waste. Some popular choices include wood chips and straw. Wood chips are great because they break down over time and provide great nutrition for your plants. Make sure you replenish them each year so your plants will always receive the maximum benefit. Straw also serves the same purpose. It’s an organic material that is light and clean and doesn’t interfere with the soil’s pH level.
Another way to protect young cabbage plants is to keep them well-watered. Mulch can help to keep soil evenly moist. This can also keep cutworms and other pests from attacking the plants. While cabbage can tolerate heavy rain, it can be prone to splitting heads and is best to harvest heads before they are split.
After transplanting cabbage, it’s important to cover the soil with mulch. This will prevent weeds from growing around the roots. In addition, cabbage has shallow roots that don’t like being disturbed. If you’re planting the same variety of cabbage, make sure you space them evenly. This will prevent the same plants from maturing at the same time. You can also stagger planting times so that they don’t all have the same maturity date.
Young seedlings should be thinned when they are about 5 inches tall. Then, you can transplant them to a different area of the garden. Make sure to mulch around your cabbage plants to help retain moisture and balance the soil’s temperature. Young plants should be grown in warm weather, as they will bolt if exposed to temperatures below 45°F.
Avoid overwatering
Overwatering when planting cabbage can have detrimental effects. It can cause the plant to die off. It also can encourage the development of diseases and pests. In addition to that, prolonged exposure to sunlight can cause the leaves to become scorched and the tips of the leaves to burn. Aside from that, excessive watering can lead to the need for fungicides and insecticides.
The best way to prevent these diseases is to avoid overwatering your cabbage. It’s especially important to avoid overwatering in hot weather. Hot weather promotes the growth of bacteria and fungi that can cause harm to the plant. While soaking your seeds does help to prevent the development of disease, it will also lower your plant’s germination rate. You should also make sure you use sterile tools near your cabbage plants. You can disinfect them by using a diluted bleach mixture. After using the solution, rinse your tools in cool water and dry them.
Another way to prevent overwatering when planting cabbage is to keep the soil temperature cool. Young transplants can be damaged by freezing temperatures. If it’s too cold, cover the area with a frost cloth or bucket to protect them from the chill. Remove the cover once the temperature rises during the day.
Avoid pests
When planting cabbage, you need to be aware of common pests that can attack your crops. One of the most common problems is caused by cabbage root fly larvae. This pest lives in the soil and feeds on cabbage leaves and heads. This pest is not difficult to manage, but you should regularly scout your fields for any signs of infestation. There are also natural enemies that can help you deal with the problem.
The best way to prevent these pests is to keep your crops well-protected against their eggs. You should be aware of the larvae and caterpillars, which lay eggs on the cabbage plant. Fortunately, you can discourage them by using decoy white butterflies around your garden. You can use printable templates to create these decoys.
Other pests that can affect your cabbage crop include cabbage worms, which can attack your plants. The easiest way to detect cabbage worms is to look for their fecal matter, which looks like small spots of brown, green, or yellow. You can also use a pesticide to kill the worms.
Planting companion plants around your cabbage plants is another way to keep them in check. A variety of herbs, including dill, is known to be effective at keeping these pests away. Dill will deter cabbage moths from your plants, as well as encourage beneficial insects such as lacewings to visit your garden. In addition to deterring the bugs, dill will also boost the growth of your plants.
