Is it necessary to cut off the lower leaves of cabbage: all "for" and "against"

Those who do not know, it is possible and necessary to cut off the lower leaves of cabbage, often self deprive themselves of a good harvest. But why this vegetable reacts so much to human intervention in its natural processes, we will understand it with the help of the knowledge and experience of professionals.

Myths of truck farmers

The most problematic crop for summer residents is cabbage, since seedlings often die in the soil due to a lack of moisture and fertilizers. But even those bunches that could transfer the transplant and took root in the new conditions do not give the desired result - large and dense forks. The reasons for this "fiasco" truck farmers can be a lot, from depletion of soil and ending with insects and pests. However, to write off all the failures only on natural factors is not worth it. Great damage to the plant and inexperienced gardener, violating the rules of care for the culture and interfering with the natural formation of the fork. Therefore, to understand whether it is necessary to break off the lower leaves of cabbage, should be more detailed. And also take into account the points of view in this issue, both beginners and professionals.

Many "professionals" of the land business are convinced that the aesthetic appearance of the head is not to spoil the deformed cover leaves in the kitchen of the experienced landlady or in the garden. In addition, they even convince themselves that they know how and when to cut off the leaves of cabbage, so that the fork is compacted and increased in size. At the same time, adhering to their point of view in growing vegetables, they can not argue any of the rules from an agronomic position. Such beliefs are built on the traditions of past generations and the councils of self-taught gardeners who do not know themselves whether to cut off the lower leaves from cabbage.

Recommendations of professional agronomists

Based not only on experience, but also on knowledge, experts in the field of growing domestic vegetable crops are very categorical in the question of whether to tear off the covering leaves of cabbage. Their unambiguous negative answer does not apply only to sick and pest-damaged parts of the vegetable. In other cases, it does not require cabbage to break off the lower leaves, which are an assimilation apparatus for the whole plant. First, they protect the forks from penetration of insects, who want to profit from the juicy cabbage. Secondly, the covering leaves function as a regulator of moisture and temperature. And thirdly, they protect heads from infection by various pathogens, so even storing cabbage is recommended to leave with several covering leaves.

Consequences of disturbance of natural growth of cabbage

Debating about whether it is necessary to break off the lower leaves of cabbage, it is necessary to remember that the plant is a complex organism, which alone is responsible for its growth. Each of its parts performs its irreplaceable function, so removing the covering elements leads to a violation of natural processes. And this applies not only green, but also withered and rotten leaves, which serve for the plant so-called "garbage chute."

Those who still doubt whether to cut off the lower leaves of cabbage, it should be recalled that the sections of this vegetable actively give off the juice with a specific smell. And if this fragrance is practically invisible to a person, then for insects it is very attractive. Just a couple of minutes after removing the fork leaf cabbage will simply be attacked by various pests, and the consequence is a sickly weak plant and a lack of a good harvest.