How to Grow Cabbage: Detailed Explanation of 5 Major Growing Techniques and Precautions
Cabbage is a crop with strong winter habit; the transition from vegetative growth to reproductive growth has strict requirements for environmental conditions, requiring seedlings to grow to a certain size before they can accept low-temperature induction. So what are the cabbage growing techniques and precautions?
1. Cabbage Growing Techniques
1. Planting Time
Cabbage has strong adaptability, tolerating both cold and heat, and in northern China it can be cultivated in the open field in spring, summer and autumn. In the high-cold regions of the Northeast, Northwest and North China, seedlings are mostly raised in spring and summer, planted in summer and harvested in autumn, with a long growing period and large heads; this is the main production area for Chinese cabbage. In North China and some cities in the Northeast and Northwest, two crops in spring and autumn are the main practice, and multi-cropping is also possible. Raising seedlings in winter and spring, planting in spring and harvesting in summer is called summer cabbage. Raising seedlings in summer, cultivating in autumn and harvesting in autumn and winter is called autumn cabbage.
2. Seedling Raising Methods
Cabbage cultivation all uses seedling raising and transplanting. Spring cabbage is mostly early-maturing cultivation; in cold regions such as the Northeast, Northwest and Inner Mongolia, seedlings are usually raised in greenhouses from February to March, with a seedling period of 60-0 days. There are two seedling raising methods in North China: one is to raise seedlings in sun-facing beds from mid-December to early January, and plant them from February to March. The second is to raise seedlings in plastic greenhouses in February, with a seedling period of 40-50 days. Autumn cabbage seedlings are raised from June to July, with a seedling period generally of 35-40 days. Summer cabbage seedlings are raised from April to May, with a seedling period of 30-40 days.
3. Planting Techniques
The roots of cabbage begin to be active once the soil temperature is above 5°C, so spring cabbage can begin to be planted when the average daily temperature reaches above 6°C. Northern springs are dry, so flat-bed cultivation is mostly used; in summer, with high temperatures and abundant rain, it is also best to carry as much soil as possible, damage the roots as little as possible, and water after planting to help survival.
4. Fertiliser and Water Management
After cabbage is planted, it needs watering to help the seedlings recover; at this time, because the temperature is relatively low, after watering it is necessary to cultivate and loosen the soil in time to preserve moisture, raise the ground temperature, and promote the recovery and growth of the root system. Entering the rosette stage, the plant must form a strong assimilatory organ and absorbs more water and fertiliser, so the first top dressing can be carried out, applying 15-20 kg of nitrogen fertiliser per mu, and fully supplying water to promote the growth of the head. After the head has formed, watering should be controlled to prevent splitting and to facilitate storage.
5. Pest Control
In the early stage of cabbage growth, it is easily harmed by cabbage caterpillars. The cabbage caterpillar is the larva of the cabbage white butterfly; it gnaws on tender leaves and can cause total crop failure in severe cases. Low-toxicity, low-residue, high-efficiency insecticides should be used for control. The best time to spray insecticide is in the evening; spraying at this time can avoid changes in concentration and composition caused by sunlight and helps the insecticide exert its maximum effect.
2. Cabbage Growing Precautions
Usually, when planting in the north, the harvest is in autumn; further north it is the autumn seed of Chinese cabbage. Under such circumstances, attention should be paid to the factors required for its production and the harvest time.