Key Points of Spring Cabbage Cultivation Techniques and Detailed Field Management Methods

AbstractVariety selection: early-maturing varieties with low-temperature tolerance and a relatively short growing period should be selected. Sowing and raising seedlings: raise seedlings in a greenhouse or small arched shed in early to mid-March. Land preparation: plow the land before winter, and after the soil thaws in spring, apply sufficient base fertilizer, then make low beds. Transplanting: transplant when the ground temperature stabilizes above 10°C; large-headed varieties can be planted about 2 rows per bed, and small-headed varieties can be transplanted about 3 rows per row. Water and fertilizer management: water immediately after transplanting, then water again to help the seedlings recover 3 days later.

I. Variety Selection

For spring cabbage cultivation, early-maturing varieties with a relatively short growing period, strong winter hardiness, and low-temperature tolerance should be selected. Suitable large-headed varieties include “Shengchun” and “Yuyi Yingchun”, while small-headed varieties include “Jin Linglong” and “Yu Linglong” baby cabbage.

II. Sowing and Raising Seedlings

1. In North China, cultivation should be carried out in a greenhouse or small arched shed covered with straw, with seedling raising generally in mid-to-late February. For open-field cultivation, raise seedlings in a small arched shed in early to mid-March. Seedlings can be raised by three methods: nutrient pots, plug trays, or broadcasting, which can improve the survival rate after transplanting.

2. Broadcast seedling raising: begin thinning when the seedlings reach the 1-leaf-1-heart stage, keeping the spacing between seedlings at about 2-3 cm, and transplant when the seedlings reach 3-4 true leaves.

3. Generally, cabbage grown at 2-13°C for about 10-25 days will undergo vernalization and bolt and flower, so the minimum temperature of the seedbed should be kept above 15°C, and transplanting is not suitable when the temperature is below 10°C.

III. Land Preparation and Fertilization

1. The planting site should be plowed before winter. After the soil thaws in spring, apply about 5,000 kg of decomposed organic fertilizer per mu, together with about 30-50 kg of compound fertilizer, then shallow-plow to mix it evenly with the fertilizer, and finally level the soil into low beds about 1 m wide.

2. There is relatively little rain in early spring. Low beds can stabilize temperature, facilitate later watering and management, and help promote seedling root development, thereby speeding up growth.

IV. Reasonable Transplanting

1. Transplanting can be done when the ground temperature at 10 cm remains above 10°C. Large-headed varieties can be planted about 2 rows per bed, with row spacing of about 35-40 cm and plant spacing of about 50 cm.

2. For the small-headed variety “Jin Linglong”, about 3 rows can be transplanted per row, with plant spacing of about 30 cm and row spacing of about 40 cm, at about 5,500 plants per mu. For “Yu Linglong” baby cabbage, plant spacing is about 25 cm and row spacing is about 25-30 cm, at about 8,000-10,000 plants per mu.

V. Water and Fertilizer Management

After spring cabbage is transplanted, it should be watered immediately, and about 2-3 days later, an appropriate amount of water should be applied to help the seedlings recover. To prevent the ground temperature from dropping too quickly, appropriate intertillage can be carried out. Later, according to temperature changes and plant needs, the amount and frequency of watering can be appropriately increased or decreased. Sufficient base fertilizer should be applied before transplanting, and appropriate topdressing later is sufficient.