Growing savoy cabbage in the open field and care features

Savoy cabbage is rarely found on our sites, although it is no more difficult to grow than white cabbage. Its leaves are thinner and more tender, they are used for salads, making cabbage rolls and cabbage soup. Early varieties are not stored for a long time, but late-ripening Savoy cabbage can lie for several months under suitable conditions. If you adhere to the cultivation technology, then you can get heads of cabbage weighing from 0.5 to 1.5 kg, without cracks or damage.

Seed preparation

Savoy cabbage is recommended to be grown by seedling method. Seeds are sown in the first decade of March, but before sowing, they need to be prepared.

Pretreatment improves germination and protects plants from certain diseases. It is carried out in stages:

• the seeds are wrapped in dense cotton cloth;
• immersed in very warm water (heated to 45-60 ° C) and kept in it for 20 minutes;
• after this procedure, quickly cool in cold water;
• then a bag of seeds is etched for 5 minutes in a strong solution of potassium permanganate or a solution of a growth stimulator ("Epin", "Zircon" and others);
• washed under running water;
• dried.

Growing seedlings

To grow seedlings, you will need containers at least 12 cm high and nutritious soil. The soil must be disinfected - spill with a strong solution of potassium permanganate or heat in the oven at a temperature of 100 ° C. This procedure is necessary in order to avoid diseases of cabbage seedlings.

The seeding depth is 1 cm, they are placed according to the 2x2 cm scheme. The soil is abundantly sprayed with water, it should be well moistened, but at the same time remain loose. You can spill it overnight and let the soil dry out a little.

Germination of seeds is carried out under glass or film at a temperature of 18-20 ° C. Airing is carried out once a day, the film is dried. If necessary, the soil is sprayed, it should not dry out. The film is removed immediately after the shoots appear.

When the first true leaf grows, the seedlings must be planted in separate containers. These can be peat cups or any disposable dishes, at the bottom of which holes must be made to drain excess moisture. When diving, pinch the root tip - this stimulates its branching. A spine that is too long can be shortened by ¼.

The first few days, the seedlings are kept in a bright place, but direct rays should not fall on the seedlings. When new leaves begin to grow, the lighting is increased, and the temperature is reduced to 12-15 ° C. At this temperature and bright light, the seedlings grow strong and will not stretch out.

Watering the seedlings is carried out carefully - only with slightly warm water, trying not to flood. 10 days after picking, it is advisable to feed the seedlings with a weak solution of any complex mineral fertilizer. Dilute it according to the instructions and dilute with water 3: 1.

Before we plant the seedlings on the garden bed, they must be hardened, gradually increasing the time spent in the open air.

Landing in a permanent place

The place for growing Savoy cabbage is sunny and warm. Drafts must be avoided, cabbage does not like them. The predecessors can be any vegetables, except cruciferous vegetables (other types of cabbage, radishes, arugula, watercress). At the same place, cabbage can be grown no earlier than in 5 years.

The land should be loose and fertile. Loamy or sandy loam soils are suitable. The place is prepared in advance - they dig deeply, apply fertilizers. 1 m² you will need 4 kg of rotted manure, 50 grams of mineral fertilizers and a glass of wood ash.

Seedlings are spilled a day before planting so that the earth does not crumble after removing the seedlings from the cups. The scheme of planting Savoy cabbage is 50x50 cm. It can be planted in rows, where 40 cm is kept between plants, and 60 cm between the beds. The seedlings are buried in the soil by cotyledon leaves.

Important!

Until the seedlings of Savoy cabbage take root, it must be protected from sunlight and low temperatures, covering the plantings with agrofibre at night.

Adult plants are not afraid of a cold snap and even withstand a drop in temperature to -5 ° C, but cold is destructive for young seedlings. Instead of forming heads of cabbage, cabbage stops growing and shoots.

Care

Savoy cabbage care is simple, it is carried out in the same way as for white cabbage.

Care includes standard activities:

• weeding and loosening;
• hilling;
• watering;
• top dressing;
• prevention of diseases and pests.

Weeding and loosening are carried out regularly, after each watering. A crust on the soil blocks the access of oxygen to the roots, which negatively affects the growth of the plant. A month after planting, the cabbage is spud. Do this 2-3 times. The first time they spud when large leaves grow, the second - after 25-30 days. The third hilling is required only for late varieties, on which the heads of cabbage ripen in the fall. Hilling is necessary so that additional roots grow on the cabbage trunk, which supply the heads of cabbage with nutrition and moisture. In addition, hilling makes the plants more resilient and prevents them from collapsing.

Watering requires a competent approach. The first month after planting, cabbage needs a lot of water. Watering 2-3 times a week, depending on the weather, then reduce watering and water no more than once every 7-10 days. If it rains, it is advisable to dig drainage grooves around the hilled plants. Excessive amounts of water and frequent watering lead to the fact that the heads of cabbage crack.

Top dressing is carried out twice. The first is 15 days after planting. A complex mineral fertilizer is introduced, which should include nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. The second time they feed is when the heads of cabbage have started. Nitrogen is not added to the second feeding.

For the prevention of diseases and attacks of pests, dusting with a mixture of wood ash and tobacco dust once every 7 days helps. If it rains, the procedure must be repeated. Ash will be required twice as much as tobacco. Cabbage should be inspected daily. If these folk remedies do not help and the first signs of a disease or pest attack are noticed, then it is worth using chemical insecticides. They must be used in accordance with the instructions and be sure to withstand the time period before harvesting.

Output

Savoy cabbage is best grown at the same time as white cabbage. Care for them is the same, but you can use it in different ways. Savoy is recommended to be consumed fresh (it is more tasty and nutritious), and white cabbage is recommended for dishes where cabbage must be cooked.