CARE TREATMENTS
Careful and timely maintenance treatments when growing vegetables determine their yield. Vegetable seeds are generally small and take a long time to sprout. If a crust has formed on the surface of the bed during this time, which inhibits air from reaching the seeds and can prevent the sprouts from rising to the surface, it must be crushed with a secateurs or norkros. You can also prevent the formation of a crust, covering the sown rows with a thin one (do 1 cm thick) a layer of peat or compost.
If the plants have grown too densely, they must be interrupted, so that they do not stretch out as a result of mutual shading. Usually, this procedure must be performed, when the first leaves appear. Some plants, like parsley, carrot, beetroot, which came up not very densely, only then do we stop, when they are grown enough, that they are fit for consumption; however, then a reduction in the total yield should be taken into account. Be careful when pulling out unnecessary plants, so as not to disturb the roots of the plants left behind. In case of too rare emergence or failure to take part of the planted out seedlings, the blanks should be filled. For this purpose, it is necessary to have a reserve of seedlings kept in such conditions, not to stretch out.
In addition to pre-sowing fertilization, post-main fertilization is used, that is, feeding plants. Plants sown into the ground are fed for the first time, when they have three to four correct leaves, plants grown from seedlings – after taking root, i.e.. about two weeks after planting. The timing of the second feeding depends on the properties of the plant, e.g. cauliflowers are fed, when roses begin to form.
Early planted or sown plants should be protected from frost, using different ways, in particular:
– sprinkling earth on plants planted out in spring, e.g. head cabbage and tomatoes planted in early May; in the North-West Baltic regions it is even possible to protect seedlings planted out before winter, e.g. savoy cabbage;
– covering plants with paper or foil caps; good results can be achieved by protecting tomatoes and cucumbers with hubcaps made from a handful of straight straw 40-50 cm, tied on one side with wire and a peg in the center, keeping such a mulch; the planted seedlings or cucumber seedlings can be covered with clay pots;
– covering plants with foil tunnels;
– spraying plants with special sprinklers (the water temperature is usually at least 5 ° C, so before the water freezes, gives plants a lot of heat).
Weed removal is an important care treatment, formidable competitors of arable crops. Weed removal, i.e. the so-called. pielenie, is made by hand or with the use of various tools, mostly hoes. Application of herbicides, however it may be effective, is not recommended on plots or home gardens, where the use of chemical preparations is avoided, especially not always tested in terms of effects on the human body.
With reference to the recommendations of systematic loosening of inter-rows that are often given, currently according to the results of research work, loosening is performed only when crops need to be weeded and on very compact soils.
Provides good growth and large yields of vegetable crops – in addition to the above-mentioned treatments – irrigation, which in dry years can increase the yields even by 100% and more. It is especially important in lighter soils and when growing vegetables exclusively on mineral fertilizers. Watering, e.g. cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, radishes, lettuce and cucumbers, significantly accelerates the yield, and in the cultivation of lettuce and spinach, it significantly delays the production of flower shoots.
The sensitivity of individual vegetable species to water shortage varies in different stages of development. For example, tomatoes and cucumbers should be watered abundantly from flowering and setting the first fruits to the end of harvest. Onions, early carrots and beets need to be watered more abundantly in the first two months of growing (May June), lettuce, kohlrabi and radish -in the stage of the formation of heads and bulges. Plants, which still have a weak root system (seedlings or a planted seedling), should be watered less, anticipating more or less 8-10 l / m2, later – 15-20 l / m2. It needs to be watered slowly, that the water soaks into the soil gradually and no puddles are formed. Vegetables with high water requirements are watered at intervals 4-5 rainless days, other vegetables co 7-8 days. When watering with a hose, put a strainer on the end or break the stream of water with your hand, in order not to damage the plants with too strong a stream of water. A special spool driven into the ground is used to facilitate the movement of the hose. When watering with a watering can or a hose with a strainer, do not be afraid to use cold water, as the splashed droplets heat up sufficiently on contact with the warm air. Also, the time of watering does not play a major role, although, due to the lower intensity of evaporation, it is better to water late in the evening.