Features of planting cabbage seedlings in open ground

Among cabbage varieties that have different properties and characteristics, white cabbage is traditionally the most popular. For variety, domestic gardeners cultivate red cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli, Beijing and kohlrabi, Brussels sprouts and Savoy, Chinese and Japanese, leaf and even decorative ones on their plots. At the beginning of the season, many are interested in: when and how to properly plant cabbage in open ground.

In most Russian regions, the main method of growing almost all varieties of cabbage is seedlings.

Determining the optimal timing for sowing seeds for seedlings, selecting and preparing planting material, growing seedlings and care features is described in detail in the article “Planting cabbage for seedlings in 2022.”

The seedling method is widely used in the middle zone and further north, in the Urals and Siberia, where the duration of the growing season of plants is limited due to climatic conditions.

Preparing seedlings provides a number of advantages:

• the growing season of plants is reduced due to intensive development in the early spring in closed ground;
• seed germination rates increase (up to 95%), which can significantly reduce financial costs for the purchase of seed material;
• it becomes possible to obtain an earlier harvest, the ripening period in open ground is reduced by approximately 5-7 weeks;
• provides more reliable protection of young plants from unfavorable environmental factors, as well as from diseases and pests.

The disadvantages are: insufficient uniformity of seedlings and the need for regular irrigation (at the seedling stage and after planting in open ground), since the plants develop a fibrous root system that is unable to obtain water from the deep layers of the soil.

To preserve the root system during transplantation and improve plant survival, seedlings are often grown in nutrient cubes and peat pots

How to determine that seedlings are ready for transplanting?

The first thing people pay attention to is the strength of the trunk and the power of the root system, the absence of damage and diseases. Other indicators depend on the type of cabbage crop. Let's look at the main parameters using white cabbage as an example:

Cauliflower has smaller and rounder leaves, Savoy cabbage has carved and pimply leaves, kohlrabi has thickened roots.

Planting cabbage in May 2022 according to the lunar calendar

Waxing Moon (favorable for planting cabbage): May 1-6, May 23-31.

You can also plant on a waning day if fertile signs of the Zodiac fall out.

Unfavorable Full Moon - May 7th. New moon - May 22 (unfavorable - 21, 22, 23).

Favorable days for planting cabbage in May 2020:

4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 15, 6, 17, 20, 25, 26.

Unfavorable days for cabbage May 2022:

1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31.

Timing for planting cabbage seedlings in open ground

The main indicator for the timing of transplanting cabbage seedlings into the garden is maturity - it is enough for the crop to remain at home for 30 to 45 days, depending on the variety.

Early cabbage is completely ready for harvest in 50-60 days, mid-early - 65-75, medium - 80-110, late - 160-180. To calculate the exact date, subtract the time for seedling growth from these indicators.

Depending on the region

Climatic conditions play an important role. The period for transferring cabbage seedlings to the beds is determined depending on the region:

According to the Lunar calendar

The cabbage crop is transplanted exclusively during the waxing moon, due to which the young plants quickly take root and grow rapidly. If you stick to these days, your immune system is strengthened and resistance to diseases is developed.

According to weather conditions

This is an important indicator, since too hot or frosty weather can lead to the death of bushes. Cabbage is considered a cold-resistant crop; it is not afraid of air temperatures down to –4°C, but the soil must warm up to +8°C and no less.

If it is not possible to wait for favorable conditions due to the risk of return frosts, the optimal solution is to cover the seedlings with plastic film after transplantation.

Growing cabbage seedlings

To navigate the planting and harvesting dates of cabbage, you need to know the ripening times of different varieties:

• early varieties ripen 45–60 days after planting seedlings in open ground, or 75–100 days after planting seeds;
• medium varieties ripen 120–150 days after sowing the seeds;
• Late varieties from the first germination of seeds to a fully marketable head of cabbage grow from 150 to 180 days.

The early cabbage harvest will be ready 75–100 days after sowing the seeds

Timing for planting seedlings

The timing of planting cabbage seeds for seedlings is calculated “from the reverse”, that is, from the approximate timing of planting in the garden. Seedlings from warm rooms can be moved to open ground when the temperature outside reaches 10–12°C (at night - 5–8°C). In the central regions this is the end of April - mid-May. Early cabbage seedlings can be planted at the age of 30–40 days, medium cabbage – 40–45 days, late cabbage – 45–55 days.

Try red cabbage varieties from a trusted supplier: