Cabbage planting techniques and time

As a vegetable that is sensitive to seasonal changes and has high requirements for fertilizer and water, the timing of sowing cabbage is directly related to the growth of the plant, including its size, the tightness of the heart, and the risk of diseases and pests. Therefore, choosing appropriate base fertilizer and applying sufficient fertilizer during planting is crucial to ensure high yield and firm cabbage core. The right seeding and fertilization strategies can help growers achieve a better quality cabbage crop. Let’s learn about the cabbage planting techniques and time.

1. Grasp the timing of sowing

Unlike spring vegetables, the timing of sowing autumn cabbage is very critical, and the suitable sowing period is usually very short. If the seeds are sown too early, the cabbage will easily fall off and rot in the heart; if the seeds are sown too late, it will be difficult to form a tight heart even if the management is good. Therefore, growers should sow seeds in time according to local climatic conditions and previous planting experience to avoid missing the best planting period.

2. Measures to prevent diseases

Although cabbage has a certain ability to tolerate repeated cropping, it is best to avoid planting it with cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage and cauliflower. Continuous cropping can easily lead to an increase in pathogens in the soil, and at the same time, soil nutrients are consumed by crops of the same family, causing nutritional deficiencies. If you have to replant, you should disinfect the soil before planting and add an appropriate amount of carbendazim to the base fertilizer. At the same time, the seeds should be treated before sowing, such as soaking in warm water, mixing with wood ash or carbendazim, to prevent diseases.

3. Apply sufficient base fertilizer

Cabbage has a high demand for fertilizer , especially base fertilizer. Adequate base fertilizer can promote rapid growth of cabbage, making the leaves dark green, the plants strong and the core firm. If there is insufficient fertilizer or a lack of nitrogen, the cabbage will grow slowly, the leaves will turn yellow, the plants will be thin, and the core will be loose or nonexistent. Therefore, fertilizers with high nitrogen content should be selected, such as fermented human feces, pig manure, chicken manure, bean cake, etc. In addition to applying sufficient base fertilizer, top dressing should also be done after seedlings are transplanted and before heart formation to meet the needs of the entire growing period.

4. Cultivate strong seedlings

After the cabbage seedlings emerge, they initially have only two cotyledons. Before the true leaves grow out, that is, about 3 days after emergence, the first thinning is carried out, keeping 4-5 seedlings in each hole. The main purpose is to remove the overcrowded seedlings to ensure that there is appropriate growth space between the seedlings. When two true leaves grow, carry out the second thinning, keeping 2-3 plants in each hole. The third thinning is the finalization of seedlings, and the thinned seedlings can be transplanted. This work is crucial, because if the seedlings are not planted in time and are too densely spaced, it will easily lead to tall seedlings, which will be detrimental to their later growth.

5. Pest and disease control

Cabbage is susceptible to diseases and pests from the moment it sprouts, so prevention is important during management. For insect pests, you can spread wood ash during the seedling stage. If there are a small amount of insect pests after the seedlings are established, you can use wood ash or tea cake to control them. In serious cases, you need to use pesticides such as acetamiprid and trichlorfon for control. For diseases, calcium magnesium boron can be sprayed on the leaves during the growing season to reduce the occurrence of dry heartburn, and wood ash can be sprinkled on the roots. Regularly spray rice vinegar mixed with 500 times water and potassium dihydrogen phosphate to prevent root rot and stem loss, accelerate heart formation and increase yield.

The above are some key points for growing cabbage, and local areas should flexibly grasp them according to actual conditions. If you have other questions about cabbage planting, you can also leave a message to discuss.