To get a quality crop of cabbage, you need to properly care for it. Equally important in this matter is its watering, since both a deficiency and an excess of moisture negatively affect the growth and development of the plant. Moreover, improper moistening of seedlings can lead to various diseases of fungal and viral origin. How to properly water the cabbage, we will understand further.
Water Requirements for Irrigation
Cabbage is a moisture-loving vegetable that requires regular and plentiful watering with quality water. She must have the following characteristics:
- Warm. Although the vegetable crop belongs to cold-resistant plants, it must be watered with water at room temperature (+ 18 ... + 23 ° C). For irrigation of cabbage it is strictly forbidden to use water with a temperature below + 12 ° C, since it inhibits the development of the root system. In turn, this leads to the fact that the plant is poorly rooted in the ground, grows slowly and poorly knots heads.
Cold water provokes the development of fungal, putrefactive and bacterial diseases. In a tandem with a low air temperature, it can lead to the death of seedlings, especially in open ground.
- Defended. If water from a tap, a well or a well is used for irrigation, it must be defended for several days in buckets or barrels in a sunny area. If the containers are painted black, the water in them will heat up faster. But this is relevant only for areas with a temperate climate. In the southern regions, the water in such containers quickly overheats. It is undesirable to use it for watering cabbage, as it will also negatively affect the growth of the crop.
Frequency and intensity of irrigation
With the right frequency of irrigation, heads of cabbage do not crack, and the taste of the vegetable improves. What factors should be taken into account when calculating the optimal frequency and intensity of irrigation, we will consider separately.
Development period
Watering cabbage needs to be adjusted depending on the period of its development:
- After planting seedlings in open ground. Seedlings need to be planted in wet soil, the moisture content of which is 80%. To do this, it must first be moistened at the rate of 10-15 liters of water per 1 square. m. In open ground seedlings for the first time need to be watered a day after planting. The optimal intensity of irrigation of seedlings is about 2-3 liters per bush or 8 liters per 1 sq. Water cabbage 1 time in 3 days for 2-3 weeks.
- After plant strengthening. Fortified plantings should be watered more moderately - about 2 times a week at the rate of 12 liters of water per 1 sq. Km. In an arid, hot climate, large-fruited cabbage varieties should be watered at the rate of 7-8 liters per bush.
- At the stage of tying forks. During this period, leaves actively grow in cabbage and heads of cabbage are formed, therefore, it needs abundant watering - about 10 liters of water per plant (20-30 liters per 1 sq. M, and during drought - up to 40-50 liters).
2-3 weeks before harvesting, cabbage no longer needs moisture, so watering must be stopped. In the case of later varieties, this must be done a month before cutting the heads, otherwise they will crack, which will noticeably affect the shelf life.
Regardless of the stage of development, moisture must flow steadily to the plant, otherwise it will necessarily affect the vegetable. For example, if the cabbage lacks water at the stage of heading out, then in the future its inner leaves will grow actively, and the outer ones will burst. In turn, this will lead to cracking.
Ripening period
When watering cabbage, you must also consider which varieties it belongs to:
- Early. Such varieties need to be watered more abundantly than others, especially in June. Water consumption - up to 20-25 liters per 1 square. Soil moisture should be maintained at a level of at least 80-90%. Watering frequency - 2 days after planting and with an interval of 8-10 days in the subsequent period.
- Mid-season, late. Such varieties of cabbage need good watering during the mass ripening of forks. This stage falls on August, therefore it is during this period that watering should be plentiful so that the soil moisture does not fall below 75-80%. The frequency of irrigation is as follows:
- 1 time - on the day of planting;
- 2 times - a week after the first;
- 3-5 times - at the stage of formation of the outlet;
- 6-8 times - at the stage of head formation;
- 9 and 10 times - upon reaching the heads of technical maturity.
After irrigation, moist soil should be earthed. Depending on the type of cabbage, the optimal amount of such an agrotechnical method will be different: early cabbage needs to be cultivated 1-2 times per season, and later cabbage 2-3 times.
Soil type
If all watering rules are followed, and the cabbage still starts to crack, you may need to look at the land on which it grows. The type of soil can be established experimentally by rolling a ball out of it, and then pressing on it:
- If you can easily roll a ball from the ground, which collapses when pressed, most likely, in the garden light loamy soils. Means, cabbage requires more frequent watering.
- If the rolled ball turns into a cake when pressed and does not crumble, it is likely that heavy loams prevail in the area. Such soil absorbs water very poorly and holds it for a long time, so you need to be careful with watering. Loosening of the soil after irrigation or precipitation is required to improve its air exchange.
- If it is impossible to roll a ball out of the ground, then cabbage grows on sandy and sandy loamy soils. They instantly absorb any liquid and lose it just as quickly. Therefore, the frequency of watering must be increased so that a dry crust does not form on the bed.
Cabbage grown on light soils often requires 5-6 waterings per season, and on heavy and dense soils - no more than 3-4 waterings per season.
Climatic conditions
In humid climates, where rainfall is not uncommon, the frequency of watering will be lower than in a hot, arid region. In the southern regions, it is necessary to increase not only the frequency of watering, but also the flow rate of water per bush, as moisture will evaporate much faster.
In conditions of an arid climate for large varieties of cabbage, water consumption is considered optimal at the rate of 7-8 liters per plant or up to 50 liters per 1 sq. M. Of course, in no case can a strong overmoistening of the soil be allowed. This will cause the cabbages to become too loose, lose their transportable qualities and shorten their shelf life.
If a prolonged drought is replaced by a long period of heavy rains, cabbage roots need to be trimmed. This will help prevent heads from becoming too saturated with moisture, so they won’t crack.
Watering Methods
In their plots gardeners most often use three methods of watering - drip, by sprinkling, along the grooves. Each of them deserves special attention.
Drip
It is considered the most economical and effective way. Its principle is that water is supplied often, but in small volumes, so the soil is always in a moist state. The drip method involves after planting a vegetable crop, carrying out an irrigation pipe with a diameter of 1.6 cm along the bed, therefore, requires additional financial investments. With this method of irrigation, it is worth considering the following parameters:
- the optimal distance between the outlets is 30 cm;
- the depth of soil wetting before heading is 25-30 cm, and during their formation, 35-40 cm;
- the duration of watering before heading is 3 hours, and during their formation, 2-2.5 hours;
- irrigation frequency in forest-steppe regions - 5-6 times (in wet weather) or 6-7 times (in dry weather), and in steppe regions - 8-11 times (4-6 times before heading out and 4-5 after);
- intervals between watering - 8-10 days.
The irrigation schedule needs to be adjusted depending on the composition of the soil and weather conditions.
Of the disadvantages of this method, gardeners note the irregularity of irrigation. With a low water pressure, only the first bushes will be irrigated, since water simply will not reach the last rows of plants. If you increase the pressure of water, then there is a high probability of filling the first plants. To compensate for these shortcomings, when installing a drip system, it is recommended to water the area portionwise.
Some craftsmen make an installation for drip irrigation of cabbage with their own hands, using opaque plastic pipes (laid under a slight slope at the rate of 5 cm per 1 m), droppers and couplings. Other gardeners prefer to dig in plastic bottles with holes made in the covers between rows of plantings. Tanks are filled with water as it flows.
Sprinkling
In private households, watering cans or hoses with a nozzle spraying water over the beds are used for this method, and on an industrial scale special installations are used. The advantage of irrigation irrigation is that both the soil and the aboveground part of the air are moistened, which prevents the appearance of pests on the plantings that cannot tolerate high humidity.
In addition, this method allows you to feed plants with essential nutrients at the same time as watering. The required amount of fertilizer is added directly to the water intended for irrigation.
The disadvantages of this method include the need for more frequent loosening of the soil after irrigation to avoid the formation of a hard crust.
Along the grooves
When implementing this method, shallow grooves are made along the plantings of vegetables, into which water is poured, and then they are mulched. With this watering, the roots of the plants are evenly saturated with moisture, so each bush receives a sufficient amount of water.
It should be borne in mind that this method is only suitable for mature plants that are well rooted in the soil. Young seedlings on grooves are not watered, because it needs watering under the root. Moreover, this method of irrigation is not suitable for sandy and sandy soils.
Use of top dressing when watering
Cabbage depletes the soil very quickly, because the accelerated growth of the plant and the ovary of the heads of cabbage require a lot of nutrients and trace elements. To maintain the strength of the culture, increase its taste and immunity, various mineral and organic top dressings are added to the water. They are purchased in specialized stores and markets or used "folk remedies" - manure, chicken droppings, eggshells, boric acid, onion husks.
During the season at least 3 top dressings are carried out in open ground:
- 14 days after transplanting seedlings in open ground. Saplings are fed with mullein (500 ml per 10 l of water) or chicken droppings, which are diluted with water in a ratio of 1:15. The solution is injected under the root of the plants so that it does not fall on the leaves. The fact is that the infusion can burn the delicate tissue of the leaf plate and leave a burn on it.
- 14-21 days after the first feeding. During the period of active growth of outlets, cabbage is watered with mineral fertilizers - superphosphate, ammonium nitrate or potassium salt. For this, 15-20 g of the substance is diluted in 10 l of water. Nettle is also rich in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Fresh stems and leaves of the plant are poured with water and leave them to infuse until they ferment. Ready infusion is poured under the root of cabbage.
- 14 days after the second feeding. For the third time, cabbage is fed if it is stunted. To do this, take potassium sulfate and superphosphate in a ratio of 1: 2, dissolve in 10 liters of water and water the planting. An alternative is the use of wood ash at the rate of 30 g of substance per 1 plant.
If cabbage is intended for long-term storage, then top dressing should include more potassium than nitrogen and phosphorus.
The nuances of watering different varieties of cabbage
All the above recommendations for irrigation are mainly suitable for white cabbage, which in most cases is grown on their plots by gardeners. If other types of cabbage are cultivated, some adjustments need to be taken into account when watering them:
- Red cabbage. It belongs to drought-resistant species, since its root system is well developed. However, during the period of tying forks, it also requires intensive watering. Twice during the growing season, it is fertilized - at the stage of maximum leaf growth and at the beginning of the formation of forks. At the first feeding, cabbage is watered with a solution of 10 g of ammonium nitrate, 12.5 g of phosphorus and 5 g of potassium chloride per 10 l of water. For the second time, 13 g of ammonium nitrate and 10 g of potassium chloride are dissolved in 10 l of water.
- Broccoli. When growing broccoli, you need to take into account that the roots of the plant are very close to the surface of the soil, so it is often watered - once every 2 days. When watering, water should penetrate to a depth of 40 cm. In the heat, broccoli is watered up to 2 times a day. After watering, the soil is loosened so that the air enters the roots, and the soil is not covered with a hard crust. In drought, broccoli responds well to spraying leaves. This manipulation is carried out only in the evening, when the sun's rays are not so active, otherwise sunburns may form on the leaves.
- Cauliflower. All varieties of cauliflower grow on constantly moist soil. It must not dry out, otherwise the heads will not be tied. For the first time, cauliflower is fed on the 14th day after planting seedlings in open ground, using slurry (1:10) or bird droppings (1:15) and 1 tbsp. l full fertilizer. Watering planting at the rate of 0.5 liters per 1 square. The first top dressing can also be done with a urea solution, if the color of the leaves is pale. The second watering with fertilizers is carried out 7 days after the first. For 1 square. m glass is scattered 1 glass of wood ash, making a small hilling of cabbage. The third top dressing is done only when the head becomes the size of a walnut, using 2 g of urea, 50 g of superphosphate and 20 g of potassium chloride per 10 l of water.
- Kohlrabi. This cabbage is watered regularly, but in moderation. Low soil moisture leads to cracking of its stems. During the first weeks after transplanting, Kohlrabi is watered once every 2-3 days, and then the number of irrigations is reduced to 1 time per week. Overmoistening of the soil is dangerous, because it leads to rotting of the roots and infection of cabbage with fungal diseases.
- Brussels sprouts. 10 days after planting Brussels sprouts in open ground, it is watered with nitrogen fertilizers. However, do not overfeed it, since a high concentration of nitrogen leads to the death of the plant. The second mineral top dressing is introduced in July-August, using potassium-phosphorus fertilizers. Brussels sprouts do not need to be spudded, as heads of cabbage begin to be tied on the lowest leaves.
- Savoy cabbage. People who grow Savoy cabbage know that this is the most frost-resistant and drought-resistant variety, but at the same time he loves moisture. Soil moisture must be maintained within 75%, and air - 85%. On hot days, the bushes are sprayed with warm and settled water. During the season, 2 top dressings are carried out. After planting, the seedlings are fertilized with a solution prepared from 20 g of ammonium nitrate, 20 g of potassium salt of hydrochloric acid and 50 g of superphosphate in 10 l of water. During the formation of forks, the cabbage is watered with a solution prepared from mineral fertilizers - 20 g of ammonium nitrate, 30 g of potassium salt of hydrochloric acid and 75 g of superphosphate per 10 l of water.
- Chinese cabbage. When growing Beijing cabbage, you need to understand that it needs moderate watering, and more than that, she likes to take a warm shower.When forming a rosette of leaves and head of air, the humidity should be in the range of 70-80% on a sunny day, and 60-70% on a cloudy day. At night, this figure should be 80%. This type of cabbage does not need fertilizers, since it is characterized by the accumulation of nitrates. Most harmful substances are found in the stems and petioles of the leaves.
Features of watering seedlings
Cabbage needs a lot of water, not only at the stage of growth and formation of heads of cabbage, but also at a more tender age. When growing seedlings, you need to consider that it prefers to grow in well-moistened soil, but not flooded with water. The following rules should be taken into account:
- Seeds are planted in well-moistened soil, and the first watering is done only after emergence. 1 week after sowing, the plant begins to fertilize, but at first they water the soil well to prevent root burns.
- The first top dressing is carried out in the phase of the second real leaf. Seedlings are watered with mineral fertilizers. To do this, take 20 g of ammonium nitrate and superphosphate, 15 g of potassium salt and dissolve in 10 l of water.
- The second top dressing is performed 12-15 days after the first. The soil is fertilized with slurry diluted with water in a ratio of 1 to 8, with the addition of 20 g of superphosphate.
- For the third top dressing, mullein (1:10) or bird droppings (1:15) are diluted in water and 20 g of superphosphate and the same amount of potassium salt per 10 l of water are added. Seedlings are watered with a solution 5 days before they are planted in open ground.
General recommendations
There are some general recommendations that should be followed when organizing cabbage irrigation:
- When watering the planting, you can not use a hose with a high pressure of water, since this will lead to leaching of the soil and exposing the roots of the plant.
- Do not overdo it with watering, because excess moisture leads to rotting of the roots, and also contribute to the formation of loose heads. In addition, overmoistening leads to cracking of the heads.
If the plant is in waterlogged soil for more than 8 hours, then the irreversible decay of the root system begins.
- When watering crops, focus on weather conditions. In case of rainfall with watering, you should wait, and in case of severe drought - water the cabbage several times a day, but making sure that the water saturates the soil well in depth and reaches the root system, and not just moistens its surface.
- After wetting, loosen the ground to prevent crusting on the surface. Along with this, it is also worth removing all the weeds.
- Some vegetable growers, noticing that the cabbage leaves begin to wither, immediately rush to the watering can and begin to fill the plant. This is a big mistake. The fact is that sluggish leaves can signal both a lack of water and an excess of it. In order not to be mistaken, it is necessary to check the condition of the soil before watering.
- When watering, make sure that the earth is saturated with moisture in depth. While the plant is gaining green mass, it will be enough to soak the soil 30 cm deep. When the forks begin to be tied, the soil should be shed more abundantly - 40 cm deep.
- To get a head of cabbage weighing 2 kg for the entire period of growth and development under the bush, you must pour up to 200 liters of water.
- Spread cabbage after watering until leafy sockets close. The procedure should be carried out only after watering. As a result, many lateral rhizomes are formed, which will favorably affect the development of the entire bush.
- The ground should be mulched with grass, hay or a non-woven black cloth. Due to this, the water will evaporate more slowly, so the number of irrigations can be reduced. In addition, the mulch layer will stabilize the temperature of the soil, as well as prevent the formation of a hard crust and germination of weed grass.
Watering cabbage is a fundamentally important agrotechnical technique, on which a rich harvest of elastic and strong heads of cabbage will depend. It should be plentiful and regular, but not excessive. It must be remembered that with a lack of moisture, the plant dries quickly, and with excessive moisture it gets a black leg and undergoes various fungal infections.