How to Grow Ercai (Nanchong Cai)? A Detailed Guide to Cultivation Techniques

Ercai has an attractive appearance, shaped like a pagoda, with a tender texture and delicious flavor, and is deeply loved by the public. Today, the editor will introduce to you the cultivation techniques for ercai.

1. Preparing the seedbed

The seedling bed for ercai should be chosen in a shaded place. Pay attention to soil quality, ensuring the soil is deep, loose and soft, with normal drainage and irrigation, and free of pests and diseases. Before planting, deep plow and disinfect the soil. The soil pH should be maintained at around 6-7. If the pH does not meet the standard, appropriately sprinkle quicklime to adjust it, but be careful not to apply too much, to prevent the soil from becoming compacted and poor, which is not conducive to the growth of ercai. Apply sufficient base fertilizer, mainly decomposed farmyard manure and trace elements. Mix the base fertilizer thoroughly with the soil, then level and finely rake it for later use.

2. Sowing and raising seedlings

Ercai has relatively strong heat tolerance and a relatively long growth cycle, so the sowing time can be appropriately advanced, mainly depending on the planting region. For example, in the southwestern region, sowing around the end of August is more suitable. If sown too early, the probability of pests and diseases is high; if too late, it will affect the growth of ercai and reduce yield. When sowing, pay attention to sowing density; do not sow too densely, to prevent ercai seedlings from being thin and weak, which affects yield. Since ercai seeds are relatively small, sowing should be thorough and even. After sowing, cover with a shade net to prevent sun exposure and rain. Keep the soil moist. When 2 true leaves have grown, thin the seedlings, and then thin again at 3 leaves, to ensure healthy growth of the seedlings.

3. Timely transplanting

After the seedlings emerge from the soil, manage the seedlings well, water and topdress fertilizer in a timely manner, and control the temperature well to prevent high-temperature damage to the seedlings and affect growth. When the seedlings grow to about 5 true leaves and the seedling age reaches about one month, they can be transplanted and planted. When transplanting, pay attention to the weather; do not do it on rainy days. Try to transplant on sunny or cloudy days. When transplanting, be careful to transplant with soil, to prevent lack of water at the roots from affecting the growth of the seedlings.

4. Field management

Ercai has a very large demand for nutrients throughout its entire growth period, so when planting, not only should sufficient base fertilizer be applied, but also timely topdressing should be done according to actual conditions. After ercai is planted, during the leaf growth period and the stem swelling period, appropriately topdress fertilizer. The number of topdressings should be maintained at about 4 times. Pay attention to the amount; do not apply excessively. Also pay attention to reasonable watering. While keeping the soil moist and meeting the water needs of ercai growth, also avoid excessive water causing waterlogging and root rot, which affects the growth of ercai.

The above is the cultivation techniques for ercai compiled by the Tuliu website editor for you. We hope it can help you!