What to Do When Chinese Cabbage Splits Its Heads? Causes and Control Methods Explained

Chinese cabbage, a biennial herb, 40-60 cm tall, usually the whole plant is hairless, sometimes with a few bristles on the midvein on the underside of the leaves. Native to northern China, it is a leafy vegetable of the genus Brassica in the family Brassicaceae, usually referring to Chinese cabbage (napa cabbage); it also includes bok choy and the heading cabbage derived from cultivated varieties of cabbage, namely “round cabbage” or “foreign cabbage”. Introduced to the south, it is cultivated throughout the north and south. It was introduced to Japan, Europe and the United States in the 19th century. There are many kinds of Chinese cabbage; northern Chinese cabbage includes Shandong Jiaozhou Chinese cabbage, Beijing Qingbai, Tianjin Qingmaye Chinese cabbage, Northeast Daaicai, Yutian Chinese cabbage, Shanxi Yangcheng Damaobian, and others. Chinese cabbage is eaten for its tender head, rosette leaves or flower stalks. It is widely used, and its cultivation area and consumption rank first among all vegetables in China.

What causes Chinese cabbage to split its heads?

1. If water supply is insufficient in the early stage and excessive in the later stage, the head will crack;

2. Continuing to apply topdressing in the middle and late stages of head formation, that is, topdressing too late, the inner head continues to grow while the outer head has already set its size, and under the expansion pressure of the inner head the head will also crack;

3. If the head has already matured and cannot be marketed in time, it will also crack;

4. Chinese cabbage for long-distance transport or storage and fresh-keeping can generally only be harvested when 80 to 90 percent mature; if over-mature Chinese cabbage is harvested, head cracking will also occur during transport or fresh-keeping storage.

What to do when head splitting occurs in planted Chinese cabbage?

Head splitting refers to the cracking of the head of Chinese cabbage. The head-forming stage of Chinese cabbage is the period when it needs the most nutrients and water, and its water and fertilizer requirements should be met in time.

1. If water supply is insufficient in the early stage and excessive in the later stage, the head will crack.

2. Continuing to apply topdressing in the middle and late stages of head formation, that is, topdressing too late, the inner head continues to grow while the outer head has already set its size, and under the expansion pressure of the inner head the head will also crack.

3. If the head has already matured and cannot be marketed in time, it will also crack.

4. Chinese cabbage for long-distance transport or storage and fresh-keeping can generally only be harvested when 80 to 90 percent mature; if over-mature cabbage is harvested, head cracking will also occur during transport or fresh-keeping storage. Cracked heads will also cause soft rot or infection by other diseases and pests. Therefore, during cultivation, pay attention to uniform water supply, stop topdressing in the later stage, and if it cannot be marketed, cut the roots in place to prevent the root system from continuing to absorb water and nutrients.