When is the best time to plant cabbage?

Autumn is the golden season for growing Chinese cabbage, as the growth habits of this vegetable complement the autumn climatic conditions. In my country's vast rural areas, due to the cool temperatures and suitable humidity in autumn, the cabbages grown at this time are not only of high quality, but some late-maturing varieties are also suitable for storage in the winter. Therefore, it is particularly common in the northern region and has become one of the indispensable vegetables on the winter table. Let’s learn in detail below: When is the best time to plant cabbage?

When is the best time to plant cabbage?

In most cases, Chinese cabbage is sown within 3-5 days before or after the beginning of autumn, which is from the end of July to the beginning of August. The temperature begins to drop during this period, but it is not yet too cold, which is suitable for the growth of cabbage. Early-maturing varieties may be sown in early to mid-August, while late-maturing varieties may be sown in late August.

How to plant Chinese cabbage

1. Soil preparation

Select plots of land with higher terrain, good drainage, deep soil, loose structure and sufficient fertility for deep plowing. The high-bed cultivation method is adopted, with a bed width of about 80 cm, two rows planted in each bed, and a bed height of not less than 18 cm. Ensure that there are appropriate middle and back ditches between beds to facilitate drainage and irrigation and reduce the occurrence of pests and diseases.

2. Apply basal fertilizer

Chinese cabbage has a long growth cycle and requires more fertilizer . It is crucial to apply sufficient base fertilizer, generally 3,000 kg of decomposed organic fertilizer per mu. The base fertilizer can be evenly spread before tillage and then turned into the soil. It is recommended to apply two-thirds of the base fertilizer before tillage , and the remaining one-third should be applied to the soil surface after tillage and mixed with the topsoil.

3. Sowing method

Direct seeding: Usually the hole sowing method is adopted. The holes are dug according to the predetermined row and plant spacing. The hole width is about 15-18 cm and the depth is 3-5 cm. Sow 20-25 seeds per hole and cover with 1-2 cm of fine soil. In case of drought, water thoroughly after sowing to ensure moisture for germination, and avoid frequent watering that may cause soil compaction. The sowing amount per mu is about 150 grams, and the sowing amount should be appropriately increased during drought.

Seedling transplanting: Choose fertile, sunny, well-drained soil as the seedbed, with a width of about 1.2 meters. The sowing amount is 5-6 grams per square meter. Cover the soil and water after sowing. When the weather is hot and dry, a shade shed should be built. Seedling management includes frequent watering, disease and insect prevention, thinning and timely adjustment of the shade shed. The seed rate is 30-40 grams per mu. The seedling period is about 25 days, and it can be transplanted when there are 4-5 true leaves.

4. Seedling management

After the seedlings emerge, thinning, thinning and finalizing should be carried out in time, usually in three times. The first time, when there are 1-2 true leaves, the distance between seedlings should be kept about 3 cm; the second time, when there are 3-4 true leaves, the distance between seedlings should be about 5-6 cm, and 3-4 plants should be left in each hole; the third time, when there are 5-6 true leaves, the seedlings should be transplanted, and 1 plant should be left in each hole. Pay attention to eliminating weak and diseased seedlings and retaining strong seedlings. Attention should be paid to water and fertilizer management during the seedling stage, and urea should be applied in a timely manner, 3-5 kg ​​per mu, to promote the healthy growth of seedlings. After thinning, timely tillage and weeding should be carried out.

5. Rosette Management

At this stage, topdressing should be applied heavily, using a mixture of urea, superphosphate and potassium sulfate to promote the growth of rosette leaves. Fertilizer can be applied on rainy days, but it should be applied far away from the roots and deeply. Keep the soil moist to help the rosette leaves grow thick and green.

6. Management during the heading period

In the early stage of heading, apply top dressing 1-2 times with urea, superphosphate and potassium sulfate, or spray 0.3% potassium dihydrogen phosphate on the leaves, once every 7 days or so, for a total of 2-3 times. In the middle stage of heading, quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer can be applied again to promote compaction of the capsule. Keep the soil moist and irrigate in time when it is dry.

7. Harvest

Harvest when the heads are fully expanded and compact. When harvesting, make sure the core is firm, without yellow leaves, diseased leaves, or insect bites, and the roots are flattened.

To sum up, autumn is the best time to plant cabbage, especially around the beginning of autumn, but the specific time should be determined according to local climatic conditions and variety characteristics. Spring and summer are also viable planting times, but appropriate management measures need to be taken. Winter planting requires special warming measures.