Step By Step On Cabbage Nursery Establishment

Nursery is a place where seedlings are grown before transplanting them in the main plots. Generally seed are to grow vegetables and to raise seedlings. Therefore, quality of seed is very important based on which the vegetable seed are sown.

There are some vegetables which cannot grow directly by sowing the seed in to the plot. For example, for vegetable such as tomato, egg plant ,cabbage and cauliflower, seedling first need to be raised and then transplanted in the plot. Generally, the seeds are covered with a layer of soil after sowing.

While there are some other vegetables whose seed need to be direct sowing in the main plot such as okra, mustard, legumes etc. In many cases, if the seed are sown too close to the surface the risk is greater that they will be dried out by the sun or eaten by birds or rodents. There are several different types of vegetable seeds based on their size and it is important to maintain to correct distances between plant to plant and row to row distances.

In off-season vegetable growing the seed are sown once in the nursery and transplanted to grow seedling in the main plot. During that time, there are very much vulnerable with temperature, light, water, insects, pests and diseases. The seedlings are very weak immediately after transplanting from the nursery bed. Therefore it is necessary to grow seedling in the nursery rather than growing them in the main plots.

Selection of site                                                                                                            

The following are considered while selecting nursery area

1. The area should be free from the water logging.
2. It should be always away from shade to get desire sunlight.
3. The nursery areas should be near the water supply.
4. The area should be fenced from the pet and wild animals.

Advantages of transplanting of the seedling

1. 1. It helps from purchasing of the costlier seeds.
   2. Ensures proper utilization of the land.
   3. Easiness for the better growth and development.
   4. Possibility of extension of the transplanting of the seedling until the favorable time.
   5. Preparation of seedling even in the adverse situation.
   6. Easiness for the care and maintenances because of the handy area.

Steps in setting up a cabbage nursery

Step 1

Clear vegetation and weeds. Dig the soil well so that there are no lumps and the ground is level

Step 2

1 week before planting, add a 7 cm layer of compost or well-rotted manure. Use 1 wheelbarrow full of manure for every 3 square metres. Mix into the soil. Water the bed.

Step 3

Raise the nursery bed 15-20cm high and 1 metre wide then level well.

Step 4

Make small drills 3cm deep and 20cm apart, by hand.

Step 5

Soak the seeds in mixture of 50g PEARL in 20lt water just before planting them. This will prevent soil borne diseases attacking seedlings.

Step 6

Mix seeds with some soil then thinly spread along the drills. Water with care then cover the seeds lightly with soil then mulch with dry grass

Germination

Your seeds will start to germinate after 5-7 days. Remove the grass and put a shade over the nursery bed.

The shade should be 1m high. Put grass on the top but make sure some sun light can get through.

Keep the soil damp but not wet. Too much or too little water is bad for your seedlings.

Too much water

• Nutrients in the soil are washed away.
• There will be less oxygen in the soil.
• The plant will fall over and the stem will rot. The plant can die.

Too little water

• The plant wilts.
• The plant cannot take up nutrients well so growth is poor.