Winter baby cabbage planting time and method

Baby cabbage , as a semi-cold-resistant vegetable that is deeply loved by consumers, is a common delicacy on the table due to its rich nutritional value and delicate, crisp taste. Mastering the planting techniques, time and management methods of baby cabbage is crucial to ensuring quality and increasing yield. Let’s talk about the planting time and methods of baby cabbage in winter.

1. Winter baby cabbage planting time

The planting time of winter baby cabbage varies according to regional and climatic conditions. It can generally be selected from early October to early November, and is suitable for planting in a greenhouse or shed. It should be noted that the specific sowing time needs to be flexibly adjusted according to local meteorological conditions, soil conditions and market demand.

2. Baby cabbage planting method

1. Soil preparation

Baby cabbage likes loose, breathable soil with a deep layer and strong water and fertilizer retention capabilities. Before sowing, the land should be deeply plowed and carefully cultivated to remove stones and weeds, and decomposed organic fertilizer should be applied as base fertilizer to improve soil structure and increase soil fertility. For acidic soil, it is also necessary to add an appropriate amount of lime to adjust the pH value to an appropriate range.

2. Seed treatment

Choose high-quality and disease-resistant baby cabbage varieties. Seed treatment can be carried out before sowing, such as mixing seeds with pesticides, soaking seeds in warm water, etc., to improve the disease resistance and germination rate of the seeds. Soak the seeds in warm water. Generally, use 50-55℃ warm water to soak the seeds for 15-20 minutes, stirring constantly during the period. After the water temperature drops to room temperature, continue soaking for 4-6 hours, then take out and dry for sowing.

3. Sowing method

Baby cabbage can be grown by seedling transplanting or direct seeding. When direct seeding, spread the processed seeds evenly on the prepared seedbed, then cover with a thin layer of soil and water thoroughly. For seedling transplanting, you need to grow the seedlings on the seedbed first, and then transplant them when the seedlings grow to a certain height (usually 2-3 true leaves). When transplanting, care must be taken to maintain appropriate plant spacing for later management and harvesting.

4. Moisture management

Baby cabbage requires a lot of water during its growth period, especially during the heading and rosette stages. The soil should be kept moist, but water should not accumulate to avoid root rot. Irrigation should be carried out in time during drought, and water accumulation in the fields should be prevented during rainy seasons, and drainage should be done well.

5. Fertilizer management

In addition to base fertilizer, baby cabbage also needs to be applied with appropriate amount of fertilizer during its growth process. Generally, topdressing fertilizer for seedlings is applied once a week after transplanting to promote seedling growth, mainly nitrogen fertilizer; after entering the rosette stage, heavy fertilizer should be applied once, mainly nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium compound fertilizer , to promote root development and leaf growth; apply fertilizer again in the early stage of heading to promote leaf head compaction, mainly potassium fertilizer.

6. Pest and disease control

Common diseases of baby cabbage include soft rot and downy mildew, and insect pests include diamondback moth and aphids. When preventing and controlling, we should follow the principle of "prevention first, integrated control" and adopt a combination of biological control, agricultural control and chemical control. For example, clean the fields to reduce the pathogen base and rotate crops rationally; use biological pesticides and natural enemies for biological control; and when necessary, use high-efficiency and low-toxic chemical pesticides for spray control, but pay attention to the safe interval of pesticides to ensure the quality and safety of agricultural products .

7. Field management

Keeping the field ventilated and light-permeable, and timely tillage and weeding, are beneficial to the growth and development of baby cabbage. At the same time, soil should be added in time according to the growth of the plants to prevent the plants from falling over. In addition, attention should be paid to removing diseased and old leaves to reduce the spread of diseases and nutrient consumption.

8. Harvesting and storage

When baby cabbage reaches the harvesting standard (generally bright color, firm leaf head, and moderate size), it should be harvested in time. When harvesting, the whole plant should be pulled up, the excess outer leaves should be removed, the inner clean leaves should be retained, and then graded and packaged for market. If storage is required, the baby cabbage can be placed in a cold storage or a cool and ventilated place for a short period of time to maintain its quality and freshness.

To sum up, the cultivation of baby cabbage requires careful management and planning, from the selection of planting time to seed treatment, soil preparation, sowing method, to pest and disease control, water and fertilizer management, field management and harvesting and storage, every link needs to be meticulous. Only in this way can we grow high-yield and high-quality baby cabbage, meet market demand and obtain good economic benefits.