When is the best time to plant cabbage?

Planting cabbage in autumn is a traditional practice in rural areas. The growth characteristics of this vegetable are highly consistent with the climatic conditions in autumn, so high-quality cabbage can be cultivated. Especially some late-maturing varieties of Chinese cabbage, which can not only adapt to the cool weather in autumn, but also be stored in winter. Therefore, they are very popular in northern regions and become one of the indispensable vegetables on the winter table. So when is the best time to plant cabbage?

When is the best time to plant cabbage?

Early autumn Chinese cabbage is usually sown between May and June and is expected to mature and be available in August and September. The sowing time of the main season Chinese cabbage is a little later, usually in the first to middle ten days of August, and the maturity period is from November to December, after which it can be supplied to the market. For overwintering Chinese cabbage, the sowing time will be delayed to October, and they can be harvested and put on the market between March and April of the following year. As for hot cabbage, they are suitable for sowing in spring and will be available on the market from April to August.

Key points for planting Chinese cabbage

Land preparation: Choose a plot with good drainage, deep soil, fertile soil and no waterlogging for deep plowing. The cultivation method adopted is high ridge and narrow bed. The ridge width is about 80 cm, two rows are planted in each bed, and the ridge height is at least 18 cm. Ensure that the middle ditch and back ditch are unobstructed to facilitate irrigation and drainage and reduce the occurrence of pests and diseases.

Fertilization: Since Chinese cabbage has a long growth period, it requires sufficient fertilizer . Focus on applying base fertilizer, applying 3,000 kg of decomposed manure per mu. The method of applying base fertilizer is: spread it all over and turn it into the soil before plowing the land , two-thirds of it is applied before plowing the land, and the remaining one-third is mixed with the soil surface when crushing the soil.

Sowing method: Use hole sowing method, dig holes according to row spacing, the hole width is 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. Water the soil sufficiently during droughts to avoid frequent watering after sowing which may cause the soil to become compacted. The sowing amount per mu is about 150 grams, and the sowing amount should be appropriately increased under high temperature and drought conditions.

Seedling transplanting: Choose sunny, fertile soil that is easy to irrigate as the seedbed, and the seedbed should be 1.2 meters wide. Sow 5-6 grams per square meter, cover with soil after sowing and water in time. Build a shed to provide shade when the temperature is high and drought is severe. The seedling period is about 25 days, and the plants should be transplanted when they have 4-5 true leaves.

Management during the seedling stage: Thinning and transplanting should be carried out in time after emergence, and should be carried out in three times. The first time is when there are 1-2 true leaves, and the seedling spacing is 3 cm; the second time is when there are 3-4 true leaves, and the seedling spacing is 5-6 cm, leaving 3-4 plants in each hole; the third time is when there are 5-6 true leaves, and the seedlings are transplanted, leaving 1 plant in each hole. Pay attention to removing weak and diseased seedlings and retaining strong seedlings. Pay attention to water and fertilizer management during the seedling stage. Water once a day during drought and apply 3-5 kg ​​of urea when there are 2-3 true leaves.

Management during the rosette stage: Apply heavy topdressing once, using a mixture of urea, superphosphate and potassium sulfate to promote the growth of rosette leaves. Keep the soil moist and water promptly when it is dry.

Management during the heading period: Apply top dressing 1-2 times in the early stage of heading, using urea, superphosphate and potassium sulfate, or spraying 0.3% potassium dihydrogen phosphate on the leaves. In the middle stage of heading, you can apply quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer again, keep the soil moist, and irrigate when it is dry.

Harvesting: Harvest when the head is fully expanded and compact, with a firm core, no yellow leaves, diseased leaves, or insect bites, and the roots are trimmed flat.

The above is an introduction to the appropriate time and method for planting cabbage. If you want to plant cabbage, you can choose the appropriate day according to the regional environment.