Chinese cabbage, a type of cabbage that comes to market between summer and autumn, is in high demand during the off-season for vegetables, making it a favored crop among many farmers. So when is the best time to plant Chinese cabbage in summer? Let's find out.
When is the Best Time to Plant Chinese Cabbage?
The best time to plant Chinese cabbage is generally from mid-May to early July. It's important not to plant too early or too late. Planting too early exposes the cabbage to prolonged low temperatures, leading to premature bolting and flowering. Planting too late affects market readiness, resulting in lower economic benefits.
Techniques for Planting Chinese Cabbage
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Variety Selection: Choose varieties of Chinese cabbage that are heat-tolerant, light-tolerant, have a short growth period, high net yield, and strong disease resistance. Recommended varieties include Qianbai 6, Xiaobai 1, Qingyan Xiaobai 3, and Zhengzao 50.
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Land Selection and Preparation: Choose high-altitude, well-drained, sandy or loamy soil for Chinese cabbage cultivation. Apply 3000-5000kg of well-rotted organic manure, 30-50kg of calcium superphosphate, and 10-20kg of potassium chloride or potassium sulfate per acre as base fertilizer after land preparation.
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Seeding Method: Before sowing, prepare ridges or furrows, or plant seeds in pits according to planting density. If the soil moisture is insufficient, appropriate watering should be done in the furrows or pits before sowing, followed by covering with soil and watering. Seedlings typically emerge in about 4 days.
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Planting Density: Chinese cabbage plants are small in size, so planting density should be increased. Generally, row spacing should be 50-60cm, plant spacing 35cm, with approximately 3000-5000 plants per acre being suitable.
Considerations
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Shade and Rain Protection: In summer, cover the seedbeds with shade nets to reduce temperature and minimize rainwater impact on the leaves.
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Prevention of Weather-Related Hazards: Strengthen prevention measures against disastrous weather conditions during the rainy season. Drain water promptly after heavy rain and irrigate with cool water to aid seedling growth. Promptly cover and support seedlings that are washed out and rinse mud-stained leaves.
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Pest and Disease Management: Chinese cabbage is susceptible to diseases like soft rot, dry blight, and pests like aphids during summer planting. Focus on preventing and controlling these diseases and pests and adopt preventive measures.
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Harvesting: Chinese cabbage should be harvested in advance, when the heads are basically formed. This allows for successive harvesting and market readiness.
In summary, while summer planting of Chinese cabbage offers high economic benefits, it's essential to master the planting time and techniques to effectively safeguard the quality and yield of Chinese cabbage, especially considering the high incidence of pests and diseases during the summer season.
