Vegetation period and its importance for vegetable growing

The period of vegetation should be distinguished from the growing season. These two concepts are often confused when it comes to recommendations on agrotechnics. The vegetation period is that part of the calendar year when the growth and development of plants takes place (in accordance with local climatic conditions). This concept came into agrotechnology from meteorology. But the vegetative period is a biological concept. It indicates the time of development for a particular species or plant variety. And covers the period from the beginning of shoots to harvesting. Different garden cultures differ according to the duration of different stages of this period and are called early or late, as well as mid-ripening. The vegetation period will be different in the northern and southern regions. This must be taken into account before choosing and adapting the variety for planting. In the southern regions of the CIS, plants can be grown for almost all maturation periods. And in the northern they, if they grow, do not ripen every year.

Vegetation growing period

In order not to get mixed up in the differences between meteorological and biological concepts, gardeners began to allocate time from emergence to harvesting. And it was his period of vegetation that was named. After all, in vegetable-growing culture plants often do not undergo a full cycle of ripening due to the fact that harvesting must end before full maturation of the seeds. For example, it is better to harvest corn in the so-called phase of milk ripeness. Cucumbers and tomatoes, as well as other vegetable crops, the harvest of which is collected more than once, are characterized by a period of vegetation, which is measured by the time interval from the first to the last harvest. In many ways, this is affected by external conditions. And also the characteristics of the variety. Vegetable crops are divided into early, mid-ripening and late-ripening, and the differences between the periods of ripening of their fruits can fluctuate up to several months. In unfavorable conditions (lack of water and sun, unexpected frosts, floods), almost any variety can unexpectedly increase its growing season. This can significantly disrupt the plans of the vegetable grower and the breeder.

Growth and development of vegetables in the growing season

Quantitative changes in plant organisms are associated with the transformation of their cells, parts and organs. Weight and size changes, like appearance. And this affects the entire period of vegetation. What does this mean for those who cultivate garden crops? Studying the heredity of plant organisms, as well as their exposure to the influence of the environment, will help the grower create optimal conditions for obtaining the maximum yield. After all, vegetables (for example, potatoes) that are not adapted to the soil and weather conditions of this particular area show very low yields and do not justify the costs of breeding and grooming. For annuals (cucumbers, tomatoes), such conditions are important in which growth and development occur in parallel. This contributes to early, abundant fruit bearing and optimal aging. There are many techniques that inhibit the development of the plant organism at the initial stage and then provide a rapid increase in mass.