Detailed Guide to Hongshan Caitai Planting Methods and Cultivation Techniques
Hongshan caitai, also known as yuncaitai or purple caitai, was developed by people from bok choy that readily bolts, through long-term natural selection and cultivation and domestication, with the color of the heart gradually becoming purple. The planting method for Hongshan caitai is simple, and below is a brief introduction to the planting method for Hongshan caitai.
1. Sowing Time
Sowing is generally done from July to late September, and the best sowing time is late August. The earlier the sowing time, the more difficult seedling raising becomes, the mortality rate after transplanting is also relatively high, and yields are low, with the harvested caitai tasting rather bitter. Therefore, choosing the sowing time is also quite important.
2. Seedling Stage Management
The seedbed should be deeply plowed and leveled, sowing 1-2 grams per square meter. To prevent disease, chlorothalonil can be mixed with fine soil and broadcast. Before emergence, keep the soil moist. After emergence, when encountering high temperature and drought, it is best to water in the evening, and at the same time pay attention to pests such as aphids, striped flea beetles, and diamondback moths. The seedling age for early-maturing varieties is 20-24 days; exceeding 24 days may cause bolting in the seedbed or bolting after transplanting before a rosette forms; for mid-maturing varieties, a seedling age of 25 days is best, and for late-maturing varieties, a seedling age of one month is best.
3. Transplanting
The land should be plowed 10 days before transplanting, generally plowed and harrowed twice, then ditched and formed into beds. Before transplanting, apply sufficient base fertilizer, generally using decomposed farmyard manure or compound fertilizer. Seedlings should not be planted too deep, so as not to cover the seedlings. Water promptly after planting, and reasonably control the plant and row spacing to ensure good air circulation. If early bolting occurs in the front and back rows, the main shoot can be removed and nitrogen fertilizer appropriately increased to help the plants return to normal.
4. Field Management
Keep the soil moist throughout the entire growth period, and water promptly when dryness is found. Topdress 4-5 times during the entire growth period. Around bud formation, sufficient fertilizer and water are needed to ensure the formation of the plant's flower shoots.
The edible part of Hongshan caitai is mainly the tender shoot stalks. It is rich in nutrients, sweet and crisp, and the best quality is purple-red in color and fresh and tender in texture, with the flavor being especially good after frost.