It is dangerous when cabbage heads crack: bacteria penetrate the wounds and the crop rots at the root.
Most gardeners blame watering, but the cause is deeper - an imbalance of calcium and boron in the soil.
This can be fixed for pennies by adding to the hole when planting... pharmaceutical boric acid and chalk!
Yes, these two components, mixed in the right proportions, will make the heads of cabbage dense and resistant to cracking even in heavy rain.
Prepare a mixture: 1 teaspoon of boric acid (powder) and 2 tablespoons of ground chalk. Pour 1 tablespoon of the mixture into each hole, mixing it with the soil.
Boron regulates the absorption of calcium, which strengthens cabbage cells, and chalk reduces soil acidity, preventing clubroot.
After planting, water the seedlings with water with iodine added (3 drops per bucket) - this will enhance the effect.
In just a month, the heads of cabbage will begin to form tight “balls,” and their leaves will become elastic.
But there is a trick: if the summer is rainy, sprinkle the soil around the cabbage with crushed eggshells once every 3 weeks. It will slow down over-watering, and the calcium from it will gradually penetrate to the roots.
Additionally, you can stick a plastic tube (for example, from a dropper) next to each head of cabbage - through it, water the plant directly under the root, bypassing the surface layer. This will protect the cabbage from sudden changes in humidity - the main cause of cracks.
Why is the method not widely used? Many people are afraid of boron overdose, but in the specified proportions it is safe. To be on the safe side, do not use boric acid more than once a season.
By the way, the same mixture can be added to broccoli and cauliflower - their inflorescences will become larger and will not darken.
Author: Kurchev Anton