When to plant red cabbage?

Red cabbage is a cold-resistant annual or biennial vegetable that can withstand temperatures as low as -1°C to -2°C, and can tolerate temperatures as low as -5°C to -10°C for a short period of time. It is not very demanding on light and can grow well in areas with both low and high light. So when should red cabbage be planted?

1. Planting time

The sowing of red cabbage moss is usually carried out from July to late September, among which late August is considered the most ideal sowing period. Sowing too early will increase the difficulty of seedling cultivation, increase the mortality rate after planting, reduce the yield, and the produced Chinese cabbage will have a bitter taste. Although sowing too late can reduce seedling death, it will shorten the harvest period and reduce the number of harvests, thus affecting the overall yield.

2. Seedling management

The seedbed needs to be deeply plowed and leveled, and the sowing amount should be controlled at 1-2 grams per square meter. To prevent diseases, you can mix thiophanate-methyl with fine soil and then spread it. Keep the soil moist before germination. If there is hot and dry weather after germination, water it in the evening. At the same time, attention should be paid to the prevention and control of pests such as aphids, yellow flea beetles and diamondback moths.

The seedling age of early-maturing varieties should be controlled within 20-24 days. Exceeding 24 days may result in bolting in the seedbed or bolting before forming a rosette after transplanting. The best seedling age for mid-maturing varieties is 25 days; and the appropriate seedling age for late-maturing varieties is one month.

3. Planting

The planting site needs to be prepared at least 10 days before planting, usually plowing and harrowing twice, and digging furrows and making ridges. Before planting, apply sufficient base fertilizer, 2,500 kg of decomposed organic fertilizer or 100 kg of compound fertilizer per mu.

Water thoroughly the day before planting to facilitate seedling removal. It is best to transplant the seedlings with soil. If you cannot transplant them with soil, try to avoid damaging the roots and plant them immediately after taking them. The seedlings should not be planted too deep to avoid covering them, and they should be watered promptly after planting. After the entire field is planted, water it thoroughly again, but flooding should be avoided.

Reasonably control the spacing between rows and plants to ensure good ventilation and light. If premature sprouting occurs, the main moss can be removed and nitrogen fertilizer can be applied appropriately to help the plant return to normal.

4. Field management

The soil needs to be kept moist throughout the growing period. Once the leaves are found to be wilting due to lack of water, water them in time. Top dressing is required 4-5 times during the entire growing period. The use of ammonium urea is not recommended because fertilizer and water are closely related to the formation of cabbage stalks.

Sufficient fertilizer and water are needed before and after budding to ensure the formation of cabbage stalks, especially early-maturing varieties require sufficient fertilizer and water supply.

It is also necessary to pay attention to the prevention and control of the main diseases of red cabbage, including downy mildew, soft rot, viral disease, black spot and clubroot, and take timely prevention and control measures.

The above is an introduction to the key points of planting time for red cabbage sprouts. As a relatively unique vegetable, red cabbage sprouts have a large audience. They taste sweet and are rich in nutrients.