A Detailed Guide to Cabbage Planting Time and Methods

Cabbage, also called yangbaicai, gedabai, baocai, yuanbaicai, baoxincai, lianhuabai, etc., is widely cultivated throughout China and is one of the main vegetables in spring, summer and autumn in Northeast China, Northwest China, North China and other regions. Cabbage has the characteristics of cold resistance, disease resistance, strong adaptability, easy storage and transport tolerance, high yield and good quality. In recent years, more and more vegetable farmers have been planting this variety, so what are the specific planting time and high-yield methods? Let's find out together.

I. Cabbage planting time

Cabbage planting all uses seedling raising and transplanting. Spring cabbage is mostly early-maturing planting. In cold regions such as Northeast China, Northwest China and Inner Mongolia, seedlings are usually raised in greenhouses from February to March, with a seedling period of 60 to 80 days. North China has two seedling raising methods: one is to raise seedlings in cold frames from mid-December to early January, and transplant in February to March. The second is to raise seedlings in plastic greenhouses in February, with a seedling period of 40 to 50 days. Autumn cabbage is raised from June to July, with a seedling period of generally 35 to 40 days. Summer cabbage is raised from April to May, with a seedling period of 30 to 40 days.

II. High-yield planting methods for cabbage

(1) Open-field planting

1. Seedling raising

To ensure the germination rate, the seeds are usually sun-dried for about 3 days beforehand. Soak the seeds in a potassium permanganate solution diluted in the sun for 4-5 hours, which can kill bacteria. Soak the seeds, place them in a container with a wet towel to germinate, and after successful germination in about three days, take them out, keeping the temperature between 20 and 25 degrees. Cover with a shallow layer of soil until the seeds are completely penetrated by water, sow 5-6 grams, and after germination transplant the seedlings in the seedbed, not too densely. Cabbage planting all uses seedling raising and transplanting. Spring cabbage is mostly early-maturing planting.

2. Transplanting and density

Cabbage and its root system begin to be active when the soil temperature is above 5°C. Therefore, spring cabbage can begin transplanting when the daily average temperature reaches above 6°C. Northern springs are dry, so flat beds are mostly used for planting; summer is hot and rainy, so also try to keep as much soil as possible and damage the roots as little as possible, and water after planting to help survival.

Reasonable close planting is one of the important technical measures to increase yield. The suitable nutritional area for cabbage should be determined according to the variety and the length of the growing period.

3. Fertilizer and water management

After cabbage transplanting, it needs watering to help the seedlings recover. At this time, because the temperature is relatively low, after watering, timely cultivating and loosening the soil is needed to help preserve moisture and raise the ground temperature, promoting the recovery and growth of the root system. Entering the rosette stage, the plant needs to form a strong assimilation organ and absorbs more water and fertilizer, so the first topdressing can be carried out, applying 15 to 20 kg of nitrogen fertilizer per mu, and fully supplying water to promote leaf head growth. After the leaf head is formed, watering should be controlled to prevent splitting and facilitate storage.

4. Pest control

In the early stage of cabbage growth, it is easily harmed by cabbage caterpillars. Cabbage caterpillars are the larvae of the cabbage white butterfly. They gnaw on tender leaves and can cause total crop failure in severe cases. Low-toxicity, low-residue and high-efficiency insecticides should be used for control. The best time to spray insecticide is in the evening, as spraying at this time can avoid changes in concentration and composition caused by sunlight and help give full play to the insecticide's maximum effect.

(2) Home planting

1. In a place with sufficient sunlight, pile up a small piece of dedicated vegetable plot with field soil. If the soil is not fertile enough, some worm castings or other organic fertilizer can be added. Mix all the soil evenly; the ratio of field soil to organic fertilizer is about 2:3. Loosen the soil with your hands or a rake, and cover the surface with a layer of culture soil about 2 cm thick, which can promote seed germination.

2. Scatter the seeds on the soil surface. Then cover with a thin layer of culture soil. Water back and forth with a watering can to make the soil completely moist. Cover with a layer of plastic film to promote germination. After about 4-14 days, once germinated, the film can be removed.

3. Between 4-25 degrees, cabbage can germinate, only the germination time differs. During this period, pay attention to soil moisture. When the seedlings grow to 8-10 cm tall, they can be transplanted, which takes about 4 weeks!

4. Prepare the soil and loosen it thoroughly with a rake. Because the soil required by cabbage needs to be relatively fertile, when purchasing, choose soil with a pH value between 6.0-7.5 and good drainage.

5. Cabbage can be harvested when it has grown for more than 80 days. Cut it off at the root; if you want to store it for a longer time, leave a little more root.