Is it necessary to fertilize cabbage to set heads?
Cabbage heads begin to gain weight in July. It happens that the crop grows, the leaves become large, but the ovaries do not appear. The reasons for this are poor-quality seed material, incorrect timing of planting in open ground, crowded plants, bad weather, insufficient watering, diseases and insects, and poor soil. To improve the situation, fertilizers are required. Let's consider the best way to feed cabbage so that heads of cabbage begin to form.
Is it necessary to fertilize cabbage to set heads?
Stunted bushes and weak growth are the main signs of nutrient deficiency. Most of the symptoms are determined by the leaves:
- brown spots indicate that the plant lacks potassium;
- Dried or completely dried leaves are a sign of a serious phosphorus deficiency;
- cabbage is pale and does not develop heads - a symptom of nitrogen deficiency.
These are the main problems that gardeners face. Feeding will help improve the general condition of plants and get a good harvest.
How to feed cabbage to form heads
There are 3 groups of fertilizers: complex (store-bought), biological and folk remedies. The advantages of natural fertilizers are safety, absence of chemicals, beneficial effects on the crop, and good results.
Iodine
This simple remedy for feeding cabbage can be found in every home medicine cabinet. Iodine prevents the development of diseases and the proliferation of pests. As a result, the heads of cabbage are formed strong and healthy.
Fertilizer is applied by spraying and at the root. Recipes:
- for root feeding, dissolve 0.5 tsp. drug in 10 liters of water;
- for spraying - 50 drops in a bucket of water.
It is better to fertilize plants in cloudy weather, after watering. Typically, gardeners spray cabbage in the early morning, and apply root feeding in the evening, after sunset.
Yeast
It is a safe and effective means of setting heads. Baker's yeast improves the mineral composition of the soil and helps the crop accumulate and absorb nutrients. Therefore, the heads of cabbage gain weight and become stronger much faster.
Recommendations:
- dilute 3 packs of yeast in 1 bucket of warm water (temperature - +17...+20°C);
- add 4 tbsp. l. sugar to increase fermentation speed and beneficial qualities;
- leave to ferment for 2-3 hours in the sun.
Feed strictly at the root: use 1 liter of mixture per bush.
In order for the yeast to work properly, fertilizing is applied only to moist soil with a temperature of +20°C and above. Humus is first added to the soil. This way the fungi will live for a long time.
Chalk
This product deoxidizes the soil, allowing cabbage to grow properly and form strong heads of cabbage.
Advice! Chalk works great when paired with herbal infusion. Nettle will benefit cabbage. To do this, fill 1/3 of the barrel with mowed grass, fill it to the brim with water and leave for 4-5 days. Add 1 tbsp. infusion into a previously prepared solution with chalk.
Use chalk for autumn and spring fertilizing:
- add 1 tbsp. crushed chalk in 10 liters of clean water:
- 1-2 g of urea or ammonium nitrate are dissolved in the same mixture;
- Spend 1 liter of liquid per bush, pour strictly at the root.
Cabbage absorbs nitrogen fertilizer well and begins to grow much faster.Apply fertilizing in the morning or evening, after watering.
Ash
A popular fertilizer for saturating plants with potassium, calcium, phosphorus, iron, boron, and sodium. The most useful ash is obtained from birch. To create fertilizing, stir 1 tbsp. ash in 10 liters of water and wait 15 minutes for the mixture to infuse.
Each bush is sprayed with 1 liter of liquid in the evening, after watering. Additionally, ash is scattered under the plants to repel snails, slugs, aphids, and earth fleas.
Attention! Regular use of ash fertilizer causes bitterness in the taste of cabbage. Therefore, 3 sprayings per season are sufficient.
Potassium humate
This soil deoxidizer is sold in finished form. The dosage is specified by the manufacturer, so prepare the solution strictly according to the instructions. It is important to pay attention to the name: it should be potassium humate, not sodium.
500 ml of the prepared liquid is poured under each bush. If the soil is too acidic, increase the volume to 1 liter. Fertilizing with potassium humate is carried out 3 times during the entire growing season:
- In 2 weeks after disembarkation plants in open ground;
- 4 weeks after the first;
- in another 2 weeks.
Feed the plants early in the morning or late evening, after watering. During heavy, prolonged rains, fertilizer is not applied, since the drug will quickly be washed out of the soil.
What to do if the heads of cabbage have grown small
Small heads of cabbage are not a reason for disappointment. It is recommended to take into account the advice of experienced gardeners and eliminate obvious problems when growing cabbage next year. Basic Rules:
- buy only high-quality planting material from well-known manufacturers, without signs of rotting or damage;
- observe crop rotation;
- choose a well-lit area for planting;
- apply fertilizing on time, follow the watering schedule;
- treat plants with special preparations when diseases and insects appear.
Additionally, gardeners advise:
- water the cabbage abundantly and evenly, avoiding stagnation of water;
- normalize the acidity of the soil in the fall by adding lime according to the scheme of 5 kg per 10 m²;
- fertilize the crop with organic and mineral preparations during the growth period;
- do not forget about loosening and ensuring normal air access to the roots.
Be sure to evaluate the general condition of the bushes. If there are obvious signs of weakening, fertilize at the root or by spraying.
Read also:
Early maturing cabbage hybrid Krautkaiser F1
Conclusion
Heads of cabbage do not set for many reasons: poor-quality seeds, non-compliance with crop rotation, too acidic soil, deficiency of nutrients. If problems are corrected in time, the harvest will be saved. The main thing is to take into account the recommendations of experienced gardeners and feed the crop correctly.