Gongcai planting methods and timing: harvest should not be too early or too late
AbstractSeed soaking and germination: choose seeds with high yield and good quality, strong disease resistance and stress resistance, soak them in cold water for 3-4 hours before sowing, then place them in 10% trisodium phosphate for 20 minutes, wash them clean and germinate. Land preparation and sowing: choose fertile, slightly alkaline sandy soil with strong water and fertilizer retention capacity, cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil, and keep the soil moist. Management: thin the seedlings properly, water regularly, apply fertilizer scientifically, and weed actively. Timely harvest: harvest when the outer leaves and heart leaves of the plant are level, and it should not be too early or too late.
Gongcai planting time
Gongcai is an annual herbaceous plant, generally planted around Qingming Festival each year or about the tenth day after the Start of Autumn. Gongcai has a bright and glossy appearance, good taste, and high edible value. In our country it is a high-grade dehydrated vegetable. Because it was presented as tribute to Qianlong during the Qing Dynasty in our country and was highly praised by Qianlong, it was offered as tribute every year thereafter, hence the name Gongcai.
Gongcai planting methods
1. Seed soaking and germination
Select Gongcai seeds with high yield and good quality, strong disease resistance, and strong stress resistance. Before sowing, soak the Gongcai seeds in cold water for 3-4 hours, then soak them in a 10% trisodium phosphate solution for 20 minutes. After removing them, rinse them clean with water and then carry out germination. The optimum temperature for Gongcai germination is 15-20°C. Wrap the disinfected seeds in gauze and place them in a constant-temperature chamber at 15-20°C, washing them once a day. Generally, after about 3 days, once the seeds show white, they can be sown.
2. Land preparation and sowing
Gongcai has strong adaptability to the environment and strong growth capacity. It is best to choose fertile, slightly alkaline sandy soil with strong water and fertilizer retention capacity for planting, in order to improve the yield and quality of Gongcai. After choosing suitable land, carefully check whether there are residual pesticides or herbicides. If any are found, clean them promptly to avoid pesticide damage to Gongcai. Carry out mid-tillage land preparation and fertilization work to improve soil fertility and reduce the incidence of disease in Gongcai. On the land, dig planting holes according to a reasonable planting density, put the planting material into the holes, cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil, then sprinkle some water to keep the soil moist.
3. Daily management
Gongcai seeds are relatively small and have poor soil-penetrating ability and slow emergence. It is necessary to ensure that the bed surface is moist to facilitate emergence. Generally, water once in the morning and once in the evening each day to ensure the soil is moist, and cover the top with a layer of straw to retain moisture. After the plants emerge, remove the straw promptly. When the cotyledons are flat and spread out, carry out the first thinning, with plant spacing preferably controlled at 3-6 cm. When the seedlings have 3 true leaves, carry out the second thinning, with plant and row spacing controlled at 15-18 cm; when the seedlings have 3-6 true leaves, carry out final thinning, with seedling spacing controlled at 20-25 cm square, and planting density controlled at 20,000-23,000 plants per mu. After final thinning, water regularly and carry out topdressing and weeding to ensure the growth and development of Gongcai.
4. Timely harvest
To ensure the quality of Gongcai, it must be harvested at the right time. If the harvest time is too early, it will affect the yield; if the harvest is too late, it is likely to become hollow and the crude fiber will increase, causing a decline in quality. Generally, the best time to harvest Gongcai is when the outer leaves and heart leaves of the Gongcai plant are level, but because different regions vary, the harvest time is best adjusted and decided according to the planting region.