Detailed Explanation of Key Techniques for Summer Cabbage Cultivation and Management
Cabbage (Brassica oleracea L.) is an annual or biennial herbaceous plant of the genus Brassica in the cruciferous family, and is one of the important vegetables in China. Cabbage——natural stomach vegetable - cabbage is neutral in nature and sweet in taste, non-toxic, and enters the stomach and kidney meridians. Cabbage is one of the best vegetables ever recommended by the World Health Organization, and is also known as a natural“stomach vegetable”.
Morphological characteristics of cabbage
A biennial or perennial herbaceous plant, about 60-150 cm tall. The lower leaves are large, deeply pinnatifid with a large terminal lobe, up to 40 cm long, with colored veins, and petiolate; the terminal lobe is large, with a rounded apex, an oblique-cordate base, and a wavy margin with fine crenations; the terminal lobes are in 3-5 pairs, obovate; the upper leaves are oblong, entire, stem-clasping; all leaves are fleshy, hairless, and covered with a white waxy bloom.
The raceme reaches 30 cm or more in fruit; the flowers are pale yellow, 10-15 mm in diameter; the sepals are oblong, upright, 8-11 mm long; the petals are obovate, 15-20 mm long, with a rounded apex and a claw. The silique is cylindrical, 5-10 cm long; the beak is 5-10 mm long, seedless; the pedicel is about 2 cm long; the seeds are spherical, about 2 mm in diameter, and grayish-brown.
Summer cabbage cultivation and management techniques
1. Variety selection
Early-maturing varieties that are heat-tolerant, disease-resistant, high-yielding, and highly uniform must be selected. Varieties suitable for summer cabbage cultivation include H-60, Xiaguang, Xiawang, Japanese KK, and others.
2. Land preparation and fertilization
Before plowing, apply 3000 kg of decomposed farmyard manure, 50-60 kg of three-element compound fertilizer, and 20 kg of urea per mu, spread evenly and turn into the field, and broadcast 1000 g of ganshenjian (Zhongcha Tongke) or 500 g of Kanglü Gongchen per mu to prevent underground pests. After the land is leveled, form ridges 1 m wide (including the furrow), 12-15 cm high, and 15-20 m long.
3. Transplanting and density
Summer cabbage can be transplanted when the seedlings are about 30 days old. Transplanting from mid-June to early July is preferable. Plant 2 rows per ridge, with a narrow row spacing of 40 cm, a wide row spacing of 60 cm, and a plant spacing of 33 cm. For the Xiaguang cabbage variety, plant about 4000 plants per 667 sq m; for the summer-autumn cabbage H-60, plant 3600-4000 plants, with a plant spacing of 36 cm. Transplanting should be done on cloudy days or in the evening to prevent exposure to the scorching sun. Seedlings must be transplanted with a soil ball, and must not be pulled up for transplanting; water immediately after transplanting to help the seedlings recover.
4. Field management
(1) Cultivate 2-3 times, with shallow cultivation, and do not damage the roots.
(2) Drain and irrigate in a timely manner. After heavy rain, do a good job of drainage in a timely manner, and there must be no standing water. Also carry out“watering the garden during waterlogging”. Water in a timely manner during drought, keeping the soil at a degree of alternating dry and wet; after entering the rosette stage, keep the soil moist. It is best to water with well water, not river or pond water. This helps lower the ground temperature and promote growth. (3) Apply a topdressing once early, applying 20 kg of urea per 667 sq m. (4) After head formation, spray with cytokinin 2-3 times.
5. Pest and disease control
For diseases, prevention should be the main approach, strictly preventing the occurrence of viral disease and black rot. For black rot, spray with 800-fold dilution of Miejuncheng, or 4000-fold dilution of 72% agricultural streptomycin soluble powder, or 800-1000-fold dilution of Guanjunqing, or 500-fold dilution of 77% Keshade wettable powder. For viral disease, spray with 500-fold dilution of 20% Virus A wettable powder, or spray with 1000-fold dilution of 1.5% Zhibingling combined with spraying Miejuncheng for control. The main pests include cutworms, cabbage caterpillars, diamondback moths, and armyworms. Cutworms can be trapped and killed with poisoned bait. For pests such as diamondback moths, spray with 2000-fold dilution of Duxiezi, or 1500-fold dilution of 5% Yizaibao emulsifiable concentrate, or 3000-fold dilution of 2.5% Decis, with good control results.