Do you need to fertilize cabbage at the end of August and what to do with it in September

There is very little time left before the cabbage harvest. In general, the care of this crop in late August and early September should be changed. The main thing is to prevent the cabbage from cracking.

Equally important at this stage is protecting the crop from pests. OBOZ.UA tells you whether you should fertilize cabbage in late summer and what you should do with it in the fall.

Do you need to fertilize cabbage

A cracked head of cabbage is an annoying nuisance for a gardener, especially if the cabbage was grown for long-term storage in the cellar. A cracked head of cabbage should be eaten or fermented immediately.

This usually happens with medium and late cabbage varieties. However, even small fruits can crack if you make mistakes in care.

In late summer and September, cabbage does not need to be fertilized. The exception is when lush foliage has grown and the head of cabbage is still small - in this case, potash fertilizers can be used.

Large, mature heads of cabbage should not be fertilized so as not to provoke cracking. Nitrogen fertilization with organic matter or complex fertilizers containing nitrogen is strictly prohibited.

Watering rules

Watering at the end of the season is reduced to a minimum. In September, the weather is already cooler, and water remains in the soil longer. You can do surface moistening if necessary.

Soil moisture surges should be avoided. Sometimes gardeners water the beds once a week, but this is also a mistake. In August-September, cabbage should be watered only after the heat of the day, 1-3 days later by sprinkling from above. And you can maintain optimal humidity by mulching - wood shavings will come in handy here.

You can cut off the leaves in a circle, leaving only the middle root. This will help reduce moisture absorption and prevent cracking. If the first signs of cracking of the upper leaves appear, the procedure should be done immediately.

If you remove the lower leaves, especially those that are yellowed and damaged, all the nutrients will be transferred to the head of cabbage, and the cabbage will ripen more deliciously.

How to deal with pests

The main enemy of heads of cabbage is the cabbage scoop. It is a large gray butterfly. The caterpillar makes its way inside the head of cabbage and spoils the harvest. To protect cabbage, it is advised to cover it with a special net.

It is also necessary to loosen the soil around the heads of cabbage and sprinkle the surface with wood ash or sand - this way you can protect the beds from slug attacks.

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