Each plant has a specific life cycle, including certain phases of development. Knowing the features of this development helps people manage the growth process of various crops, increasing their productivity. For a better understanding of the life of any plants, it is important to know what the vegetative period of plants is and to understand all the nuances of this issue.
What is the growing season?
Vegetation and the growing season are different concepts.
- Vegetation is a state of growth and development of a plant.
- The growing season is the length of time during which the plant goes through a full development cycle. This period includes certain phases such as seedlings, swelling of the buds, flowering, fruiting and so on.
Control of the growing season allows you to get a larger crop. For various vegetable and fruit crops, you can create optimal conditions for their rapid development. Sometimes this requires accelerating the growing season, while slowing fruiting. Some vegetables, on the contrary, need to slow down the vegetation in order to improve the quality of the crop and their subsequent better storage.
Factors Affecting Vegetation
The growing season in plants of various species and varieties can vary significantly. The average values are considered to be a period from 3 days to 3 months. Timing depends on several factors, the main ones are:
- soil condition;
- climatic conditions;
- plant diseases and pathologies;
- heredity of cultures.
The climatic situation in our country is not always favorable to some plants. It happens that crops do not have time to ripen - in this case, the crop has to be harvested ahead of schedule. In favorable weather, plants can bring several crops a year - here, the increased growing season allows crops to grow so much.
Vegetation depending on the life cycle of plants
The life cycle of a plant also significantly affects its growing season. In annual and perennial crops there are certain differences in this.
Annual plants
The shortest life span falls on the share of annual plants. For areas with a cold climatic background, annual seeds are planted in the spring; by autumn, their seeds have time to ripen. In the southern regions there is a constant vegetation of plants, but their lifespan is only one season.
The speed of the growing season of annual plants makes it possible to experiment with plantings annually due to the constant renewal of species. The advantage of perennial crops lies in the simplicity of handling them in connection with less waste of money and time.
Certain plant species or varieties need two years to complete the growing season. In the first year, the formation of bulbs, root crops, full of nutrients. The formation of seeds or fruits responsible for the reproduction of the species is carried out as early as next year. In the subtropics, vegetation continues naturally, and for climatic zones with low temperatures this occurs due to the planting of overwintered parts of plants.
Perennial plants
Perennials continue to bear fruit throughout their entire life cycle. In the first year of life, they form organs that are responsible for storing the nutrients necessary for plant development. After wintering, processes are formed that pass from development to dying, such periods can last for many years.
In trees, vegetation is determined by the time of active life, including the beginning of the movement of juices, buds, up to dropping leaves.
Seasonal vegetation
The length of time per year for perennial plants is usually divided into 4 periods:
- vegetative growth;
- autumn transition;
- relative peace;
- spring transitional.
The repetition of these periods in perennial plants on the territory of our country occurs annually. In this case, the growing season includes only three points out of four. The winter period is not attributed to this time. Depending on weather conditions, the beginning of the spring and autumn transition periods may vary.
Autumn period
This time period is characterized by the coating of plants with a wood layer. This is due to the starch accumulated by them for their active life - it is converted into sugar, which provides good protection for the winter period. In the fall, the continued growth of small absorbent root nutrients continues. They grow until the onset of frost. Most annual plants in our country end their life cycle in the fall.
Rest period
The apparent active vital activity of plants in this period ceases. Maintain the life of perennials allow accumulated nutrients. However, in the earth at a depth of several tens of centimeters, the roots continue their work, allowing some of the trees and shrubs to receive part of the nutrition. By the beginning of spring, food supplies are significantly depleted.
Sometimes it is possible to observe the manifestation of plant activity during the thaw, when the temperature rises high - some herbs begin to turn green, buds swell on the trees.
To maintain the life of perennials, it is important to replenish their nutrient supply. Due to the strong loss of moisture during the winter, plants can die, so additional watering in the autumn period will not be superfluous for them.
Spring period
In the spring, the plants again continue to grow the root system. In this case, the activity of the ground part increases sharply. The process of plant development proceeds the faster, the longer the daylight hours become and the higher the temperature. For annuals, this period is most often the beginning of a life cycle.
Vegetation period depending on the type of plants
The diversity of plant species on our planet is amazing. Various herbs, vegetables, berries, trees, shrubs - each representative of the flora has its own developmental characteristics. For agriculture, the most important vegetable and fruit crops, therefore, it is their vegetation periods that are worth considering in more detail.
Vegetation of currants, raspberries and gooseberries
After winter, currants wake up early - the buds swell with the onset of spring. The rate of its development depends on the area of growth. Following the buds, after a couple of weeks, buds begin to form, flowering lasts no more than a week.
Raspberry begins its vegetation process at the end of March, the difference in varieties is not of particular importance here. Raspberries bloom after a few months, the ripening of berries ends in mid-summer.
The period of gooseberry vegetation begins earlier than other shrubs. After 3 weeks, it blooms, and after two months the berries appear.
Removing old dry branches helps gooseberries and currants grow better.
The growing season in fruit trees
Here it all begins with the swelling of flower buds, a week after them leaf swell. Depending on the species, this period in trees has its own characteristics.
Apple trees begin to bloom at 10 degrees outside the window. These trees bloom a week and a half. They can bear fruit all summer, starting in July, and until late autumn, it all depends on the variety.
Already at six degrees above zero, pears begin to awaken. Two weeks after the start of the growing season, pears bloom. With a sharp cooling, the vegetation may stop. A week or more after flowering, the fruiting begins in the trees.
Plums bloom in May, after which fruits are formed on them, the ripening of which ends by August or mid-September, depending on which variety.
Cherry is not so demanding on temperature, maintenance and soil composition, so its growing season begins in April and passes quickly.
Cucumbers, tomatoes, cabbage, potatoes
The length of the growing season of crops distinguish:
- early ripening;
- mid-season;
- late ripening.
Table 1. The need for vegetable plants in heat, depending on the growing season
Vegetable plants | Optimum temperature (° C) | Critical temperature (° C) | |||
For seed swelling | For seed germination | For laying fruit | For seedlings | For adult plants | |
Eggplant | + 14-16 | + 25-30 | + 25-30 | + 5-6 | — 1 |
Cabbage | + 2-3 | + 15-23 | + 15-17 | — 2-3 | — 8-10 |
Carrot | + 4-6 | + 17-25 | + 15-25 | — 2-3 | — 3-4 |
Cucumber | + 14-16 | + 25-30 | + 22-28 | + 6-8 | + 2-3 |
Pepper | + 14-16 | + 25-30 | + 25-30 | + 5-6 | — 1 |
A tomato | + 10-12 | + 25-30 | + 20-27 | + 3-5 | — 1 |
The growing season of potatoes lasts about 4 months. This indicator is averaged for early ripe and late ripening varieties. First, a sprout sprouts, then the potato blooms and is pollinated, after which inedible fruits appear on the bush. The end of the growing season comes with the drying of the upper part of the bush - this time marks that you can start harvesting.
In early cucumbers, vegetation takes about 100 days, in late-ripening - two weeks more. The cucumber bush blooms in about a month from the beginning of growth, then until the end of the growing season the plant is able to bear fruit and bloom. The end of the growing season falls at the beginning of autumn.
The growing season of cucumbers can be accelerated by warming the seeds before sowing.
The growing season of tomatoes is similar to cucumber, only the time frame is slightly shifted: the most ripe tomatoes can ripen in 2 months, the latest varieties ripen up to 4.5 months.
In cabbage, this period lasts from 3 months to six months.
Conditions for favorable vegetation
The favorable course of plant vegetation is inextricably linked with environmental conditions. The main ones are:
- Warmly. For the normal growth and development of plants, a certain temperature regime is required. Ground parts of plants require more heat than the root system. Excess heat, as well as its lack, exacerbate development and can lead to death.
- Water. It is 4/5 of the wet weight of plants. Its huge volumes are spent at any period of their development. The main source of moisture is soil, air humidity is also important. Artificial watering is often an integral part of the vast majority of plants to get the best harvest from them.
- Shine. In vivo, sunlight is the only source of energy for photosynthesis. The need for lighting depends on the species and varieties, the period of development, nutrition and plant conditions.
- Air. It acts as the main source of carbon dioxide, providing photosynthesis. Plants, mainly their root systems, also take oxygen from the air.
- Nutrients. Plants still need various minerals to form organs and crops. Depending on the conditions of detention, the lack or excess of certain elements can significantly slow down the development or lead to the death of plants. Today there are many organic, specially developed chemical fertilizers and additives that optimize the nutrition of any representative of the flora.
All these conditions are of equal importance, and their optimal combination determines the normal growth and development of any plant.
Vegetation Impact Methods
The vegetative period of plants can be influenced using several methods, among which are distinguished:
- watering;
- fertilizers;
- temperature condition;
- spraying.
Each of these methods is worth considering in more detail.
Watering
Regular watering is necessary for any developing plant. Most of all, fruit and leafy vegetables, especially those that have not yet fully strengthened, need this. The best time for watering when placing vegetables on the open ground is lunch or evening, you should not pour too much water. If the plants are located in the greenhouse, it will be best to water them until noon - so the water will have time to completely absorb before nightfall.
Tomatoes need to be watered at the root, because when watering the leaves of these plants, the likelihood of certain diseases increases. Onions require watering only at the beginning of its growth.
Some plants do not need watering, provided that the usual rainfall rate falls. Such plants include garlic, red beets, onion sets and some others.
Fertilizer and fertilizing
Fertilizers and top dressing is a substance that complements the nutrition of cultivated plants and changes the properties of the soil. It is especially important to fertilize and feed perennial plants and trees. Fruiting bushes, giving early harvest, begin the growing season with the nutrients remaining from the fall. With a lack of these substances, the plant will not bear fruit annually - it will have to save part of its nutrition to sustain life. That is why it is necessary to provide plant care not only in the spring-summer period, but also in autumn.
At the beginning of development, nitrogen-containing fertilizers are suitable for trees. So you can provide a large crop for several years to come. But you should not use this fertilizer in the autumn period - this can only harm the plant. Also useful solutions and fertilizers are bird droppings. Before use, it must be mixed and allowed to stand for several days. After this, the fertilizer can be applied after diluting it with half water.
Additionally, read the article on how and what to feed fruit trees and shrubs.
Spraying
Many plants need regular spraying from pests and diseases, otherwise the crop can be significantly late, and its quality will become noticeably worse. Sprinkle trees and shrubs with melting snow, when the formation of buds is already underway.
There are many different spray products available on the market today. It is safe to collect fruits after such treatment only after 3 weeks. Before starting spraying, you should take care of special clothing: glasses, gloves, a respirator. You can buy it in the same specialized stores where fertilizers and spraying products are sold.
Temperature
The vegetative period of plants requires certain climatic conditions. Dry areas are characterized by a time-limited development, and in areas with a temperate climate this process can be significantly extended, which allows a larger yield.
Conventionally, the vegetative framework for the development of most plants is usually combined with the moment of transition of the average daily temperature in autumn and spring to + 5 ° C. But it is worthwhile to understand that this figure is average, and each plant species has its own favorable development temperature.
Depending on the perception of temperature, plants are divided into cold-resistant and heat-loving. For the former, lower temperatures are preferable, relatively average, and high will be detrimental, for the latter, the opposite is true. Therefore, before planting any crops, it is necessary to study the features of their susceptibility to certain climate conditions of a given area.
For the normal development of plants, one should also not forget about their various diseases. It is necessary to get rid of diseased plants before planting, it is best to burn them.
The most effective ways to ensure optimal vegetation conditions are watering and fertilizing.You need to water the plants regularly, depending on the need for water of each species. Nitrogen-containing and organic fertilizers should be applied in the spring-summer period. With these measures, you can significantly increase the yield.
Acceleration of vegetation
With an increased speed of vegetation, plants yield earlier. Sometimes it can be extremely useful, it encourages people to use special methods of accelerating vegetation to increase yield. These methods are based all on the same supplying plants with necessary moisture and nutrition, along with the use of growth-promoting substances. Among these methods, there are:
- Hydroponic cultivation. The method of hydroponics involves finding the roots of a plant not in the soil, but in a special substrate in solution of nutrients. Mineral wool, crushed stone, expanded clay or coconut fiber are often used as such a substrate.
- The use of growth stimulants. These drugs are based on phytohormones. With the help of growth stimulation, intensive root formation, flowering is caused, the number of ovaries increases and fruit ripening is accelerated. When using such drugs, it is extremely important to know exactly their purpose and strictly observe the dosage.
- Cultivation by aeroponics. With this method, the plant and its roots are in limbo. With the help of a sprayed solution of nutrients, the root system is constantly sprayed, other parts of the plant are not sprayed. In this case, a huge plus is the minimum probability of penetration of pests and the occurrence of diseases due to the lack of contact with the ground.
Using the aeroponics method allows you to fully automate cultivation systems.
Reasons for Slow Vegetation
The reasons for the slowdown of vegetation in general terms can be called the imbalance of factors that determine the normal development of plants. The most common reasons for the slowdown of vegetation is a violation of the temperature regime. Thus, hot summers have a detrimental effect on certain crops, which can cause a sharp reduction in yield. Frosts can also affect the slow development of plants.
Any lack of heat, water, light and nutrition can cause a malfunction in the formation and development of plants, so it is so important to monitor them, especially during the growing season.
Application of new technologies
Today, agricultural development has reached impressive heights. According to scientists, in the near future, people will completely relieve themselves of most agricultural work, maximizing the robotization of the cultivation and harvesting process. Along with these claims, genetic engineers constantly develop new plant varieties that are resistant to various external factors, be it temperature, disease, pests or drought.
More and more attention is being paid to the concept of vegetation every day, and this means only a steady increase in productivity, profitability of production, qualitative characteristics of plants and many other important factors.
Environmentalists consider the process of plant vegetation a fundamental stage. It is worthwhile to understand that with a certain malfunction in this process, there is a likelihood of an adverse outcome for any culture. Therefore, it is so important to monitor and care for the plants during their growing season.