When is the best time to plant Wutacai?

Wutacai , also known as Tacai, is named black vegetable because of its dark green leaves. This vegetable has thick and tender leaves, short stems, and unique wrinkles on the leaves. Its overall shape resembles a blooming dark green flower. It is not only delicious but also has high ornamental value. So when is the best time to plant Wutacai?

When is the best time to plant Wutacai?

Wutacai is a vegetable with extremely strong cold resistance. It can survive even in temperatures as low as minus 15 degrees Celsius, and its ideal growth temperature range is 15 to 20 degrees Celsius. In the northern regions, the sowing of wutacai is usually scheduled in early August each year, followed by transplanting and planting in early September. In the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, that is, the southern region, the time for sowing and transplanting can be postponed by about one month, that is, sowing in early September and transplanting in early October. This time arrangement can ensure that Wutacai grows smoothly under suitable temperature conditions.

How to plant Wutacai

The method of growing wutacai is usually to raise seedlings and then transplant them, because this vegetable grows vigorously and has large leaves, so it needs more space. First, select soil that has never been used to grow cruciferous crops as the seedbed, and deep plow and fine harrow it before sowing to form a 1.5-meter-wide bed. Before sowing, air the seeds for a day and soak them in clean water for two hours, then drain and sow them evenly, covering them with a layer of fine soil. After about two days, the seeds will germinate. After a week, thin out the seedlings to cultivate strong seedlings, and transplant them after about 30 days.

When it comes to land preparation and fertilization, choose a plot with loose, fertile soil that has not been planted with cruciferous crops for at least two years. One month before planting, deep plowing and drying of the soil are carried out, and base fertilizer is applied, including 3,000 kg of decomposed organic fertilizer , 20 kg of phosphate fertilizer and 15 kg of potassium fertilizer per mu. The soil is then plowed and harrowed to form 1.5-meter-wide beds.

When transplanting, the wutacai seedlings can be carried out when they have grown 7 leaves. Be careful not to plant too deep, and water thoroughly after transplanting to help the plants take root. Keep the spacing between rows and plants at 15×30 cm.

In terms of fertilizer and water management, black mustard grows rapidly, especially in the middle period, when it has a greater demand for fertilizer and water, especially nitrogen fertilizer. Therefore, fertilizer needs to be applied once about 7 days after planting, using 8 kg of urea per mu for furrow application or root irrigation, and then applied again after half a month. When winter comes, you can reduce the frequency of fertilization, and after the plants resume growth in early spring, add urea 1 to 2 times.

As for the prevention and control of diseases and pests, the main disease of Wutacai is soft rot, and the main pest is aphids. For soft rot, you can use thiophanate-methyl for prevention and control; for aphids, you can use imidacloprid to effectively kill them. Through these meticulous management measures, the healthy growth and harvest of wutacai can be ensured.

The above is an introduction to the planting time of Wutacai. The planting time of Wutacai can be determined according to different regions. Wutacai is cold-resistant.