Many gardeners grow cabbage in their beds. Ammonium nitrate is traditionally used to produce healthy, strong heads of cabbage. An ideal nitrogen fertilizer has only one drawback: it acidifies the soil. This is acceptable for neutral and slightly alkaline soils. On acidic soils, cabbage does not tolerate this reaction: development stops.
What should summer residents whose land is already acidified do? Another fertilizer will help you grow the desired crop: calcium nitrate. When applied correctly, it does not change the reaction of the soil.
Why do you need to feed?
The gardener knows: cabbage is an overgrown bud. She loves nitrates. In the early stages of development, it absorbs them, instantly digests them and requires new ones.Grows quickly.
Without adding nitrates, you cannot get dense, heavy heads of cabbage. But plants accumulate excess nitric acid salts. Consumption of products becomes hazardous to health. Application deadlines must be adhered to. The rate must be calculated accurately.
Calcium makes cabbage digest nitrogen faster. Development and growth are accelerating. Gardeners notice the effect of saltpeter within 2-3 days. The bud instantly increases green mass.
Nitrogen fertilizers form a healthy root system. The plant absorbs water and nutrients. The ground part is actively developing.
Accumulated nitrogen makes the plant attractive to pests. Caterpillars attack bushes. In chewed leaves, photosynthesis occurs more slowly. It is Ca that prevents the formation of nitrogen reserves.
Pests damage weak cabbage. Plants must meet enemies strong and strong. Timely feeding of cabbage will save the gardener from the exhausting fight against pests and diseases.
How and when to apply saltpeter
Calcium nitrate is a universal remedy. Usage options:
- applied to the soil;
- added to water when watering;
- given in the form of foliar feeding (spraying on the leaf).
This substance should not be sprinkled around the plant or worked into the soil before planting. It will not be possible to get the desired effect. It is necessary to follow the recommendations of agronomists.
The first time you should feed cabbage with calcium nitrate is when it is a week old. It is necessary to dilute a teaspoon of the substance in a liter of water. Gently water the plants at the roots.
Spraying on the leaf gives good results. Working solution: a tablespoon of powder per 5 liters of water. Repeat foliar feeding every 10 days until the head of cabbage begins to form.
A competent gardener must feed cabbage seedlings when planting them in beds. Add 1 teaspoon of fertilizer to each hole. Sprinkle the top with a 1 centimeter layer of earth. The roots do not touch the substance. They are drawn to her and actively grow. Fertilizer is absorbed as needed.
Why calcium nitrate
The traditional nitrogen fertilizer is ammonium nitrate. But it does not contain calcium. Biologists have proven that it is Ca that promotes the complete absorption of nitrogen. Advantages of use:
- The element strengthens the root system of the plant. This is especially important for cabbage. The massive above-ground part requires complete absorption of nutrients from the soil.
- Calcium neutralizes the effects of magnesium and iron. In acidified soil, elements are present in excess. They reduce resistance to diseases.
- The consistency of cabbage improves. It becomes juicy and crispy. When fermented or salted, it retains its color and does not soften. The taste is delicate and pleasant.
- There are no losses during winter storage. The heads of cabbage do not rot and are not affected by mold fungi.
- Cabbage becomes resistant to diseases. Easily tolerates weather changes.
- Calcium causes the plant to digest nitrogen faster. Cabbage has strong, dense leaves. Caterpillars damage them less.
Some gardeners believe: once they have added urea, added a mixture of phosphorus and potassium, there is no need to use anything else. Experience shows that you cannot get a decent harvest without special additives.
The use of calcium nitrate for cabbage complements other fertilizers (mineral complexes). It is friendly to all fertilizers. The action of the substance is inhibited by simple superphosphate.
What does fertilizer look like?
Any saltpeter contains a residue of nitric acid (NO3). It attaches to the main substance (NH4 - ammonia, Ca - calcium).
Ca(NO3)2 is a by-product of the production of nitric acid. The substance belongs to hazard class 3. When working with it, you should observe protective measures (wear gloves, protect your eyes and respiratory organs, do not swallow).
The fertilizer consists of 13% nitrogen and 19% calcium. Available in two forms:
- powdery;
- granular.
Calcium nitrate powder easily dries out and turns into dust. When air humidity increases, it clumps into a lump. It's uncomfortable to work with him.
For use in gardens, the latter is preferable: it is not carried by the wind. In the soil, under the influence of bacteria and moisture, it acquires a chelated (easily digestible) form.
To reduce moisture holding capacity, manufacturers add waxing components. The inclusion of NH4NO3 turns the powder into granules. Ammonium nitrate contains 26-34% nitrogen. An additional element is sulfur. This fertilizer saturates young plantings with nitrogen as much as possible. Ideal for neutral or slightly alkaline soils.
Calcium nitrate easily absorbs moisture. This feature must be taken into account during storage and transportation. Sold in packages up to 2 kilograms. Not used in large agricultural complexes.
Calcium nitrate should be applied exclusively in the spring before planting. There is no point in filling the ridges in the fall: salt dissolves perfectly in water. After the snow melts, it will not remain in the soil.
Brief conclusions
Cabbage must be fed with calcium nitrate. It grows large and tasty. Keeps for a long time.
Fertilizer application rates must be observed. It is necessary to stop at the moment the leaves curl into heads of cabbage.
On slightly alkaline and neutral soils, gardeners use ammonium nitrate.
