Detailed Explanation of Key Techniques for Off-Season Vegetable Cultivation

Off-season vegetables are currently cultivated mainly in the following three ways:

(1) High-altitude off-season cultivation. This is a technique for producing heat-sensitive vegetables during hot seasons. The principle is that in the hot summer and autumn, heat-sensitive vegetables cannot be grown in low-altitude flatland areas due to high temperatures, whereas in high-altitude mountainous areas, because temperature decreases as altitude increases, it remains relatively cool there, making it possible to grow heat-sensitive vegetables that cannot be cultivated in flatland areas due to high temperatures. The purpose of high-altitude off-season vegetable cultivation is to supply the market with fresh vegetables of rich variety during the "autumn slack" season for vegetables in August-October. Therefore, the sowing period must be arranged reasonably according to the marketing period and the growth period of each type and variety. There are many kinds of vegetables suitable for high-altitude off-season cultivation. In our city, the main ones include: Chinese cabbage, cabbage, celery, cauliflower, radish, carrot, tomato, bell pepper, green beans, and so on. The altitude of mountainous areas suitable for high-altitude off-season vegetable cultivation in our city is generally above 800 m.

(2) Insulated facility cultivation. This is a cultivation technique for growing cold-sensitive vegetables during cold seasons. Insulated facilities mainly include: ① plastic greenhouses, ② small plastic arch sheds, ③ plastic film mulching, ④ electrically heated hotbeds. Insulated facility cultivation in our city is mainly used for certain vegetables to be brought to market early in early spring and for supply extension in late autumn. The vegetable types brought to market early include: water spinach, cucumber, eggplant, sweet pepper, green beans, edamame, Ceylon spinach, and so on. The types for extended supply also include autumn-winter cucumber, late-autumn tomato, green beans, yardlong bean, sweet pepper, and so on.

(3) Shade net cultivation technique. Shade net is a new type of covering material, and according to light transmittance requirements, it has different weaving densities. Black shade nets are generally used. Covering vegetables with it can provide shade, wind protection, rainstorm protection, and increase garden humidity, thereby helping to overcome the adverse effects of strong light, rainstorms, and high temperatures in summer and autumn on vegetable production, achieving the goal of increasing vegetable variety, improving quality, and meeting people's needs during hot seasons.