When is the best time to plant cabbage?

Chinese cabbage is a common vegetable in rural areas. It has a high yield and, if managed properly, a single plant can weigh several kilograms. It has strong adaptability to soil, but prefers fertile, well-drained soil. Let’s take a look at when is the best time to plant cabbage?

When is the best time to plant cabbage?

When it comes to sowing Chinese cabbage, choosing the right time is crucial. Early-maturing varieties are suitable for sowing in mid-to-early August, mid-maturing varieties are suitable for sowing in mid-to-late August, and the best sowing period for late-maturing varieties is from late August to early September. However, the specific sowing time should be flexibly adjusted according to local climatic conditions. In areas with lower temperatures and early cooling, sowing can be done earlier. On the contrary, in areas with higher temperatures and late cooling, sowing should be delayed appropriately. This is because if sowing is too early, high temperatures may inhibit the growth of cabbage, increase the risk of pests and diseases, and may also cause the cabbage to be loose.

Chinese cabbage prefers a cooler climate, and the temperature changes in autumn should be taken into consideration when sowing. The most suitable temperature for cabbage seed germination is 20-22℃, the best temperature for seedling growth is 22-25℃, the suitable temperature for rosette growth is 17-22℃, and the optimum temperature for heading is 12-18℃. Therefore, when the daytime temperature in autumn is stable at 20-25℃, it is the best time to sow Chinese cabbage, which helps ensure that the seeds germinate quickly and the seedlings are uniform and strong.

Chinese cabbage field management

Watering in time: Keep the soil moist after sowing to facilitate the seeds to absorb water and germinate. During the germination and seedling stages, a balanced water supply should be maintained to avoid excessive watering that may cause the seedlings to grow too tall or cause disease.

Reasonable fertilization: Cabbage needs sufficient nutrients to grow. Some nitrogen fertilizer can be applied during the seedling stage to promote leaf growth, while the application of nitrogen and potassium fertilizers needs to be increased during the rosette stage and heart-enclosing stage to promote heart-enclosing and fruiting.

Thinning and transplanting: Thin out the seedlings when they have 2-3 true leaves, and remove weak, diseased, insect-infested, and overcrowded seedlings. When transplanting seedlings, maintain an appropriate spacing between plants, generally 30-40 cm, to ensure that there is enough space between plants to grow.

Intertillage and weeding: Regular intertillage can loosen the soil, increase soil aeration, promote root development, and reduce weed competition for nutrients and water.

Pest and disease control: Check the plants regularly to detect and treat pests and diseases in a timely manner. A combination of biological control, physical control and chemical control can be adopted, such as using sex attractants, releasing natural enemy insects or spraying low-toxic pesticides .

Drainage management: Ensure that fields are well drained to avoid waterlogging and root diseases. In rainy seasons, special attention should be paid to timely drainage.

Bundling and covering: During the cabbage heart stage, the heart leaves can be protected by bundling the leaves or using covering materials to promote the compactness of the heart and improve the commercial quality.

The above is an introduction to the best planting time and management points for Chinese cabbage. You can harvest it in time according to the growth of Chinese cabbage and market demand. Note that harvesting too early will affect yield and quality, while harvesting too late may cause disease and frost damage.