When is the best time to plant cabbage?

Cabbage , a biennial herb of the genus Brassica in the cruciferous family, has become an indispensable part of winter vegetables with its rich nutritional value, fresh taste and good quality. In the north, cabbage is a common guest on every household’s table. Almost every family grows it to ensure a supply of fresh vegetables during the cold season. So when is the best time to plant cabbage?

When is the best time to plant cabbage?

The folk proverb "Grow radishes in the first dog days, mustard in the second dog days, and cabbage in the third dog days" reflects the traditional wisdom of growing cabbage in the dog days. Cabbage, as a plant of the cruciferous family, is widely grown throughout the country. It prefers a cool environment, and the growth temperature should be between 15 and 22 degrees Celsius. Growth will be stunted if it exceeds 25 degrees Celsius. Adequate sunlight is essential for cabbage to form heads and leaves, and its large leaves also mean that it requires more water, but at the same time it is sensitive to waterlogging.

The dog days of summer start from the first Geng day after the beginning of autumn and last for about ten days, usually in mid-August. At this time, the temperature in the north is suitable for growing cabbage. However, this planting time does not apply to the southern regions, where high temperatures usually require waiting until September to start sowing, and early-maturing varieties should be selected.

In addition to the dog days of summer, cabbage also has a suitable sowing period in spring and summer. Spring sowing is usually done from March to April, while summer cabbage is sown from May to July.

Cabbage planting precautions

1. Management during the seedling stage:

Cabbage seeds germinate quickly, and usually under good soil moisture conditions, seedlings can be seen emerging neatly from the soil within three days. Thinning out the seedlings three times is required during the seedling stage to prevent overgrowth of the seedlings. The first thinning should be done 4 to 6 days after the seedlings have grown two true leaves, at which time weak and overly dense seedlings should be removed.

The second thinning is about 5 days after the first one. At this time, the seedlings already have 4 to 5 true leaves. The purpose is to reduce crowding. Adjust the thinning density according to the sowing method. For row sowing, keep about 8 cm spacing, and for hole sowing, keep 2 to 3 seedlings in each hole.

The third thinning is carried out when the seedlings grow 6 to 8 true leaves, and the final plant density is determined based on field conditions. If the seedlings grow crowded and there is more than one plant in each hole, thinning is necessary; if the seedlings are in good condition and there is only one plant in each hole, they can be transplanted.

2. Field management:

The focus of field management of autumn cabbage is water and fertilizer management. Cabbage has a greater demand for nitrogen fertilizer, followed by potassium fertilizer. Nitrogen fertilizer is mainly absorbed during the rosette stage, and the demand for potassium fertilizer increases after the heading stage. If the base fertilizer is sufficient, top dressing should be applied twice after the seedlings are planted: the first time is during the rosette stage, applying about 10 kg of urea per mu, which can be combined with watering; the second time is during the early stage of heading, applying 20 kg of urea per mu, also in combination with watering.

Watering should be adjusted according to the growth stage of cabbage. Keep the soil moist in the early stage, and control water appropriately during the rosette stage to promote heading and prevent excessive growth. The water requirement increases during the heading period. After heading, water thoroughly first, then again after 3 days, and then water once a week to keep the soil moist.

The above is an introduction to the time and key points of cabbage planting. The cabbage planting time needs to be considered in combination with the actual local environment and is not unified in all regions.