In which month is cabbage usually planted?

Cabbage is one of the common vegetables in our life. It prefers cool climatic conditions and its optimal growth temperature range is 15 to 22 degrees Celsius. In addition, the growth of cabbage also depends on sufficient sunlight. So in which month is cabbage usually planted?

In which month is cabbage usually planted?

The planting time of cabbage varies according to season and region:

1. Spring sowing

Spring is an excellent planting season for cabbage, and the suitable sowing time is usually from late February to early April. In spring, the temperature gradually warms up, which is suitable for the growth of cabbage.

2. Summer sowing

Cabbage sowing in summer is generally carried out from May to June, which is the off-season for vegetable supply and has higher economic benefits. When sowing in summer, you need to pay attention to watering to cool down, and avoid excessive rain and waterlogging.

3. Autumn sowing

Autumn is the main season for growing cabbage, generally from August to September, when the temperature is moderate and suitable for cabbage growth. Specifically, the most suitable time to plant autumn cabbage is 3-5 days before and after the Beginning of Autumn in August.

4. Winter sowing

In some warmer areas, cabbage can also be grown in winter, usually from October to November. You need to choose cold-resistant varieties and pay attention to warming measures.

Cabbage planting tips

01 Variety selection

Cabbage is widely grown in the south in autumn and winter, and there are many varieties. The plant has two forms: upright and waisted, and is mainly cultivated in autumn and winter. According to the color of petiole, it can be divided into two categories: white stem and green stem. Representative varieties of the white-stem variety include Nanjing Dwarf Yellow, Changzhou Changbai Stem, Guangdong Dwarf Black Leaf, Hefei Small Leaf Vegetable, etc.; representative varieties of the green-stem variety include Shanghai Dwarf Ji, Hangzhou Zaoyoudong, Changzhou Green Stem Vegetable, etc.

02Land preparation and basal fertilizer application

Cabbage requires more water and nutrients, but its root system is shallow and cannot absorb water and nutrients from deep soil. Therefore, you should choose soil that is deep, loose, fertile, and has strong water and fertilizer retention capabilities. The previous crops are mostly spring vegetables or wheat, watermelon, etc., and continuous cropping is avoided. At the same time, pay attention to the environment around the plot, try to stay away from cruciferous crops, and reduce the spread of diseases and pests.

After harvesting the previous crop, remove dead branches and leaves and plow the soil in time to a depth of 25 to 30 cm. If the land was cleared early for the previous crop, it is best to do deep plowing followed by sun drying, and shallow plowing one week before sowing. In rainy areas or when the previous crop was harvested late, shallow tillage is recommended to avoid excessive moisture in the soil, which would affect sowing.

Fertilization should be carried out after the land is leveled and before deep plowing. Apply 5,000 kg of decomposed and finely crushed organic fertilizer , 50 kg of superphosphate, 20 kg of urea or 25 kg of compound fertilizer per mu. Fertilization should be evenly applied to ensure uniform soil fertility, with 2/3 of the fertilizer applied before deep plowing and the remaining 1/3 applied before harrowing.

03Sowing

There are two types of sowing methods: direct seeding and seedling transplanting, which are usually determined by the harvest time of the previous crop. If the previous crop was harvested early and the land can be prepared and made into ridges in time, direct seeding can be adopted. Otherwise, adopt the seedling transplanting method. Direct sowing is 5 to 6 days later than seedling transplanting. Chinese cabbage cultivation generally adopts two modes: high ridges and flat beds. There is one row planted in each high ridge, and the ridge height is 12 to 15 cm; there are two rows planted in each flat bed, and the width of the bed depends on the variety. There are two methods of live broadcasting: hole broadcasting and strip broadcasting.

Hole sowing is done by digging holes within the row or on the top of the ridge according to the plant spacing. The row spacing for early-maturing varieties is 55 to 60 cm. Row sowing is to dig 5 to 10 cm deep furrows according to the row spacing, water first, and after the water seeps in, sow the seeds evenly and cover them with 0.8 to 1 cm thick fine soil. After the direct-seeded cabbage sprouts, you should water it frequently to keep the ground moist and lower the surface temperature. When there is no rain, water is usually applied on the day of sowing or the next day to ensure that the ridge surface is soaked. Water the seeds for the second time on the third day after sowing to encourage the young shoots to emerge.

04Seedling Management

After the seedlings emerge, check and supplement the seedlings in time, remove sick and weak seedlings, loosen the soil and weed. Thinning can be done in stages, thinning out the seedlings once every 2 to 3 leaves, selecting two cabbages with good growth, and then selecting the best one. Thin out the seedlings when they have 6 true leaves (clump of plants) and till the soil in time. Stop tilling the soil after the outer leaves cover the ridges to avoid damaging the roots and leaves. Shallow tillage is better than deep tillage.

05Fertilizer and water management

(1) Topdressing

Cabbage has high yield and requires a lot of fertilizer. On the basis of applying sufficient base fertilizer, top dressing should be applied in time. Top dressing should be determined according to the growth period and seedling conditions. No topdressing is generally required during the seedling stage. If the base fertilizer is insufficient, the first time you can apply ammonium sulfate is 10 kg per mu during the 3-4 true leaf stage, spread it on both sides of the seedlings, and water it immediately. This is called "seedling-raising fertilizer"; the second time is after the seedlings are fixed or transplanted, 15-20 kg per mu of ammonium sulfate is applied, and the fertilizer is applied by digging furrows on both sides of the ridges. This is called "seedling-growing fertilizer"; the third time is during the rosette stage, 25-30 kg per mu of ammonium sulfate and 10-15 kg of superphosphate are applied. The fertilizers are applied into the furrows or holes, and then a little soil is added to support the ridges, and then water is applied. This is called "large topdressing fertilizer"; the fourth time is in the middle stage of heading, 15-20 kg per mu of ammonium sulfate is applied, and it can be applied with water. This is called "heart-filling fertilizer."

When planting cabbage, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium should be used as needed. Avoid excessive use of nitrogen fertilizer as it may affect the absorption of other elements.

(2) Watering

When cabbage moves from the cluster stage to the rosette stage, the temperature drops and the weather becomes mild, so you can water it appropriately. Control water appropriately for a few days at the end of the rosette stage, and then water again after the third topdressing. The most water is needed during the heading stage. Water thoroughly once the seedlings are done growing, and then water again after 2 to 3 days. Later, water once every 5 to 6 days to keep the soil moist.

06Pest and disease control

The control of cabbage diseases and pests should adhere to the principle of "prevention first, prevention and control at the same time". The first is to choose highly resistant varieties. The second is to implement reasonable crop rotation. The third is to apply chemical drugs in appropriate amounts, and the specific types of drugs can be determined according to the type of pests and diseases.

07Bundling and harvesting

In the later stage of cabbage growth, the weather is changeable and the temperature drops. To prevent frost, it is necessary to bundle it in time. Generally, stop watering 10 to 15 days before harvest, prop up the rosette leaves, hold the leaf ball, and tie it with soaked sweet potato vines or straw. Harvest 2 to 3 days before the First Snow, and dry in the field. When the outer leaves wilt, they can be stored.

To sum up, the sowing time of cabbage is mainly concentrated in spring, summer and autumn, while it can also be sown in warm areas in winter. The specific sowing time should be arranged according to local climatic conditions and market demand.