Side dressing for cabbage (Best organic fertilizer for cabbage) – Cabbage plant growing

How to grow winter cabbage in netting grow tunnel. About three weeks have passed since the winter cabbage was planted. This time, we will fertilize the cabbage. (Side dressing for winter cabbage.) I will explain the timing for fertilizing cabbage, the type of fertilizer to use, and how to fertilize.

We will fertilize the cabbage (Side dressing for winter cabbage)

In cabbage farming, the fertilizing time usually comes about 3 to 4 weeks after planting. (This applies to fall-planted cabbage, which is planted in September.) In our garden, we grow cabbage without pesticides and organically, so we also use organic fertilizer for fertilizing.

Winter cabbage that has been planted about three weeks ago

The number of times to add extra fertilizer to cabbage is usually just once. After the cabbage starts forming a head, do not add more fertilizer. (Adding fertilizer after the head starts forming can cause the cabbage to split or grow poorly.)

For vegetables like cabbage and lettuce that are grown from seedlings, plant them early in autumn. The best time to plant cabbage in autumn is from early to mid-September.

How to do side dressing for winter cabbage (About the amount of extra fertilizer and how to add it for cabbage)

To fertilize winter cabbage, apply fertilizer in two spots, about 20cm (8 inches) from the base of the plant. Since there are two winter cabbage plants, the total number of fertilizing spots is four.

Add extra fertilizer 20cm (8 inches) away from the base of the cabbage plant
Fertilization spots for winter cabbage

The reason for placing the fertilizer 20cm (8 inches) apart is that after about three weeks from planting, the roots will have grown that far. Around a 20cm (8 inches) radius from the base of the winter cabbage plant.

Fertilizer works well when placed just beyond the tip of the roots. This distance is about 20cm (8 inches) from the base of the plant. On the other hand, it’s not good to fertilize too close to the base. If fertilizer touches the roots directly, it can damage them, so avoid that.

The amount of fertilizer is 20g (0.7 oz) of chicken manure per spot. For winter cabbage, if the fertilizer spot is under the bed, lift the mulch, dig a 10cm (4 inches) hole, and add fertilizer.

The chicken manure used for fertilizing winter cabbage
If the fertilizer spot is under the bed, lift the mulch

If the fertilizer spot is on top of the bed, you can’t lift the mulch. So, push a trowel about 10cm (4 inches) into the mulch, widen the gap, and put chicken manure there.

Insert the trowel, widen the gap, and add fertilizer

Make sure to use the correct amount of fertilizer. Using too much fertilizer can make the plants more vulnerable to pests and diseases, or cause poor growth. It can also make the cabbages taste bitter or cause a harsh flavor, so be careful.

Put chicken manure in the holes
I fertilized the winter cabbage plants
The other winter cabbage plant has also been fertilized

After adding the fertilizer, water it, cover it with soil, and place back the mulch and insect netting. This completes the fertilizing work for the winter cabbage. (Side dressing for winter cabbage is complete.)

We water the fertilizer, chicken manure, to help the soil microorganisms. (For microorganisms, moist fertilizer is easier to decompose.)

Make sure to bury the fertilizer in the soil. If the fertilizer is left on the surface or on the mulch, it can attract pests with its smell.

Water the chicken manure
Cover with soil
Place the mulch back
Place the insect netting back
Winter cabbage add-fertilizing completed (Side dressing for winter cabbage is complete)

Following is the video for how-to. English subtitles are available.

Side dressing for cabbage (Best organic fertilizer for cabbage) – Cabbage plant growing – YouTube