Which month is the best time to sow Chinese cabbage?

Chinese cabbage is a vegetable with wide adaptability, prefers a mild climate, and has no strict requirements on the photoperiod. Therefore, it can be cultivated all year round and is favored by many growers. So when is the best time to sow Chinese cabbage? Let’s take a look with the editor below.

1. Which month is the best time to sow Chinese cabbage?

Chinese cabbage has certain temperature requirements. The suitable temperature for germination and seedling growth is around 25-30℃, and the suitable temperature for leaf growth and cauliflower formation is around 15-20℃. Therefore, the best time to sow Chinese cabbage is usually from March to May in spring and from August to October in autumn. The climatic conditions in these two time periods are most suitable for the growth of Chinese cabbage.

In spring, Chinese cabbage can be sown in March, so that a good harvest can be obtained in late spring and early summer. In autumn, August to September is the ideal time to sow Chinese cabbage. The weather is cool at this time, which is conducive to the growth and development of Chinese cabbage, and can avoid the adverse effects of high temperatures in summer on the growth of Chinese cabbage.

2. How to plant Chinese cabbage

1. Choose the variety

There are many varieties of Chinese cabbage at present, such as green Chinese cabbage, willow Chinese cabbage, white Chinese cabbage, 49 Chinese cabbage, red Chinese cabbage, etc. You can choose the varieties to plant according to the sowing time, market demand, and local climate. For example, the early and mid-maturing varieties Sixty Days Special Green can be put on the market in about 60 days, and the 49 Chinese cabbage can be put on the market in about 35 days.

2. Sowing method

Just sprinkle the seeds directly onto the ridge surface. Since the cabbage seeds are very small, you must be very careful and skilled when operating. The usual sowing rate is 0.5 kg per mu. After the seedlings are all grown, thin out the seedlings 2-3 times, with the third thinning keeping the distance between seedlings about 3 cm.

3. Planting

Chinese cabbage should not be planted continuously with cruciferous vegetables. Before planting, deep plow the land and apply 1500-2000 kg of decomposed farmyard manure and 30 kg of superphosphate as base fertilizer per mu. Transplant the seedlings when they have 5-6 leaves. For early and mid-maturing varieties, the row spacing is 16 cm and the plant spacing is 13 cm. For late-maturing varieties, the row spacing is 20 cm and the plant spacing is 18 cm. When transplanting, choose a sunny afternoon for better results. Water the plants while transplanting to help them take root. Plant 1-2 plants in each nest.

4. Field management

Chinese cabbage grows rapidly, so fertilizer and water management must be timely, so both base fertilizer and topdressing should be given equal importance. After transplanting and survival, apply sufficient fertilizer and water during the period of vigorous leaf growth and vegetable stalk formation, 2,000 kg of manure and water per mu. Control the amount of fertilizer and water in winter to avoid excessive growth and frost damage. Apply 20% manure and urine when the seedlings sprout new roots 2-3 days after transplanting. When buds appear, apply manure and urine with a concentration of 30-40%. After the main stalks are harvested, apply manure and urine with a concentration of 40-50%. The amount of topdressing each time is 2000-4000 kg, and it can also be combined with 10-20 kg of urea.

The above is an introduction to the best time to sow Chinese cabbage. March to April in spring or August to September in autumn are suitable for planting Chinese cabbage because the temperature at this time can be stabilized at above 15°C, and the light and humidity are relatively suitable, which is conducive to rapid germination of the plants.