Transplanting Saku Saku Cabbage
You've successfully sown your Saku Saku and seen them sprout out of their seed coats, or maybe you've bought cabbage seedlings at your local farm or garden center—what's next?
Today, we're sharing a few tips for transplanting your baby cabbage plants into the ground.
Timing:
- Saku Saku, like other cabbages, can stand a little bit of cold, so you don't have to wait until the weather completely warms. You can transplant 2-3 weeks before your last frost date.
- Be sure to harden them off at least 3 days before transplanting. Keep them in their trays and leave them outside to get used to the temperatures.
- The seedlings are ready for transplant when the plants pull easily from the tray and roots have filled the cell.
Preparations:
- Water your transplants well prior to moving them to the field or garden.
- Prepare your soil with organic fertilizer making sure to incorporate it, and remove large dirt clods or stones.
- Check your soil moisture. We don’t recommend running water during the transplant process. Make sure the soil is pre-moistened.
Spacing:
- In a commercial setting, space 12" apart with mechanized planter. Rows should be 12-24" apart.
- If planting by hand, maintain a straight planting line, and plant 12" apart. You can use the length of a typical garden shovel/trowel to measure the spacing (they are usually about 12" long from end to end). Rows should be 12-24" apart.
Maintenance:
- Post-transplant watering: water the plants in after transplanting to minimize transplant shock. After this, cut back on watering. Roots need to establish and search for water.
- Irrigation: Consider your soil type, DO NOT over irrigate. Sandy soil will require more water; soil with a lot of clay will require less.
- Row cover: Use of light row cover can prevent damage from flea beetles and other brassica pests. We recommend covering your plants if you live in an area with heavy brassica pest pressure.
Questions? Please comment below or feel free to reach out to us at oishiinippon@tokitaseed.us!
