Is it better to plant cabbage early or late this year?

Cabbage is a common dish on winter tables in northern China, and the timing of its planting has a direct impact on its yield and quality. Now it is the suitable planting period for cabbage, so is it better to plant it early or late? Let’s learn more about it below.

Is it better to plant cabbage early or late this year?

Generally speaking, spring and autumn are suitable times for growing cabbage. In spring, Chinese cabbage is suitable for planting from March to May, while in autumn it is suitable for sowing from August to October. The climatic conditions in different regions are different, so the planting time will also vary. For example, if you are in the northern region, you may need to choose to sow later in spring or earlier in autumn to avoid the impact of low temperatures in spring or rapid temperature drops in autumn on the growth of cabbage; if you are in the southern region, you may have a longer time window to choose sowing.

How to plant autumn cabbage?

1. Land preparation and fertilization

The planting site should be flat, with convenient irrigation and drainage, and a thick tillage layer of sandy loam, loam or light clay, and the previous crop should not be cruciferous crops (such as rapeseed, radish , cabbage, and Chinese cabbage). Before sowing, the garden must be thoroughly cleaned, the soil turned over, and fertilizer applied. Apply 3000-4000 kg of decomposed organic fertilizer , 40-50 kg of calcium magnesium phosphate fertilizer, 1-1.5 kg of borax per mu, and level the soil.

2. Sowing method

It can be carried out in the form of seedling transplanting or direct seeding. Pay special attention to keeping the ground moist and loose when transplanting seedlings, sow the seeds directly on the seedling bed, cover with a thin layer of fine soil, and press down appropriately. Generally, seedlings will emerge after 36 hours.

3. Field management

(1) Thinning and transplanting: The first thinning should be done when the seedlings are in the shape of a cross, and transplanting should be done when the seedlings have 6-8 leaves. It is best to do this in the afternoon.

(2) Water and fertilizer management: After applying base fertilizer, apply top dressing 2-3 times to keep the soil moist. Stop watering 8 days before harvest.

(3) Pest and disease control: mainly control viral diseases, downy mildew, white spot disease, soft rot, as well as pests such as aphids and cabbage loopers.

4. Harvest and storage

Autumn cabbage can generally be harvested 70-90 days after sowing. After harvesting, it must be dried in the sun before storage. It is best to store the cabbage in a cellar when the leaves on the outside of the cabbage are a little wilted, which makes it easier to preserve.



In general, the determination of cabbage sowing time should be based on the understanding of local climatic conditions, so as to accurately judge whether it is better to plant early or late. In addition, more attention should be paid to post-planting management to ensure high yield and high quality of cabbage.