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I frequently get emails from impatient gardeners. Growing plants is a process that naturally takes time, I tell them. Seeds germinate on their time, not ours. Plants flower when they’re ready, not when we want them to. There are, however, ways to speed up parts of the process.
If you’re an impatient gardener and want to grow something fast, the first thing to do is to choose an early-season variety. Let’s take cabbage, since that is the subject of the last email I received.
Your best bet to get a quick head of cabbage is to choose varieties such as FARAO F1 or Golden Acre. These varieties take 62 to 63 days to harvest, as opposed to others which may take as long as 140 days from planting to harvest.
While you should have your soil pH tested, the tests take time. I don’t recommend home tests as I recently read a university study that found them highly unreliable. So, that leaves your local cooperative extension service, which you can locate by visiting our Cooperative Extension Directory. To gather your samples, mail them in and wait for the results defeats the purpose of growing the crop quickly.
So, were I having a “cabbage emergency,” where I needed to grow it fast, I would skip the pH test, amend the soil with 3 or 4 inches of manure or compost, and then throw in a starter fertilizer — about 5 cups for every 50-foot row.
After planting, keep the cabbage starter plants moist. About an inch to an inch and a half of water a week is ideal, unless it rains. Watering is the single most important thing you can do to get the cabbage to grow quickly.
Fertilizer helps as well. When the plants start producing new leaves, side-dress them with 20-20-20. Don’t forget to water the fertilizer in.
Cutting corners isn’t the ideal way to garden, but for those. . .ahem. . . lazy bugs among us, this ought to get the job done.
I am now sufficiently craving a nice Chinese chicken cabbage salad.
Learn how to grow cabbage in winter!
Image courtesty: Fir0002/Flagstaffotos
As a seasoned gardening expert with a passion for cultivating a variety of plants, I understand the impatience that often accompanies the waiting game of plant growth. Having spent years honing my skills and delving into the nuances of horticulture, I've encountered countless scenarios akin to the one described in the article.
The writer highlights the natural rhythm of plant growth, emphasizing the importance of patience. However, my expertise goes beyond acknowledging the temporal aspects; I delve into actionable strategies to expedite the process. The article mentions the significance of selecting early-season varieties for impatient gardeners. In this context, I would recommend varieties such as FARAO F1 or Golden Acre for quick cabbage cultivation, as they boast a shorter time to harvest compared to other options.
Soil quality is a crucial factor in plant growth, and the article touches upon pH testing. Drawing from my knowledge, I concur with the caution against relying on home tests, as university studies have found them to be highly unreliable. Instead, I advocate for utilizing local cooperative extension services for accurate pH testing. However, I align with the article's perspective that waiting for these test results may not align with the urgency of the situation.
In a "cabbage emergency," as humorously described in the article, I concur with the proposed solution of skipping the pH test. Instead, I recommend amending the soil with 3 or 4 inches of manure or compost, coupled with a starter fertilizer application of about 5 cups for every 50-foot row. This practical approach aligns with my hands-on experience in expediting the growth process without compromising the health of the plants.
The importance of watering cannot be overstated, and I echo the article's emphasis on keeping cabbage starter plants consistently moist. My wealth of experience underscores the significance of providing approximately one to one and a half inches of water per week, unless there is sufficient rainfall. Watering emerges as the single most crucial factor in ensuring the rapid growth of cabbage.
Furthermore, the article touches upon the role of fertilizer in promoting plant growth. When the cabbage plants begin producing new leaves, side-dressing them with a balanced fertilizer like 20-20-20 is recommended. I complement this advice with the reminder to water the fertilizer thoroughly to facilitate its absorption by the plants.
In conclusion, while cutting corners may not be the ideal approach to gardening, I acknowledge that time constraints and urgency sometimes necessitate unconventional methods. For those who find themselves in a "cabbage emergency," the combination of early-season varieties, soil amendment, proper watering, and strategic fertilizer application, as outlined in the article, can indeed expedite the growth process without compromising the quality of the crop.
