When is the best time to plant cabbage?

Cabbage is a very common vegetable in daily life, especially in rural areas in the north, where almost every household grows it. It can not only be eaten fresh, but also used to make sauerkraut or pickles . Cabbage tastes delicious and is rich in nutrients. So when is the best time to plant cabbage?

1. Planting time

Cabbage is usually planted in autumn. The sowing time varies according to the characteristics of different varieties: early-maturing varieties are recommended to be sown in early to mid-August, medium- and late-maturing varieties are suitable for sowing in late August to early September, and late-maturing varieties are best sown in late August.

2. Soil preparation and base fertilizer

Cabbage is highly adaptable and can grow in a variety of soil conditions, but it prefers sandy loam or loam that is rich in organic matter and well-drained. To avoid continuous cropping with cruciferous crops, reasonable crop rotation should be implemented. One week before sowing, deep plow the land, harrow it and make ridges, and ensure that the furrows are easy to drain. Apply 5,000 to 7,000 kilograms of decomposed organic fertilizer per mu, combined with 50 kilograms of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium compound fertilizer . After spreading evenly, plow the land to fully mix the fertilizer and soil.

3. Sowing and raising seedlings

Choose high-quality seeds that are resistant, cold-tolerant, and disease-free. Sowing methods include row sowing, hole sowing or mechanical sowing, with a sowing rate of about 0.5 kg per mu. Adjust the spacing between rows and plants according to climate and soil conditions. When conditions are favorable, plant them moderately densely; otherwise, plant them sparsely. After the seeds germinate, keep the soil moderately moist to promote germination. When 2 to 3 or 4 to 5 true leaves grow, thin out and replant, and remove weeds and diseased and weak seedlings.

4. Planting

When the seedlings grow 5 to 6 true leaves, they can be transplanted and planted. Choose a sunny afternoon for transplanting and avoid strong midday sunlight to increase the survival rate. Determine the planting density according to variety characteristics and soil conditions. Water immediately after transplanting, and then water once in the morning and evening each day for the next three days to help the seedlings recover.

5. Field management

Cabbage requires a large amount of fertilizer. In addition to applying sufficient base fertilizer, top dressing is also required at the right time. If the base fertilizer is insufficient, 10 kg of ammonium sulfate can be applied at the seedling stage, and water should be applied immediately after fertilization to promote absorption. After transplanting, carry out the second topdressing, apply 15 to 20 kg of ammonium sulfate, and combine it with furrowing. The third top dressing is carried out during the rosette stage, applying 30 kg of ammonium sulfate and 15 kg of superphosphate, combined with soil cultivation. The heading stage is the critical period for Chinese cabbage to require water, and the soil needs to be kept continuously moist. Control water appropriately at the end of the rosette stage, and resume normal watering after the third topdressing.

The above is an introduction to the planting time and key points of cabbage. Although the market price of cabbage is not high, the demand is stable and it can be processed into many delicacies. If you want to achieve high yields, you must do a good job of management.