When is the best time to plant summer cabbage? Variety recommendations and summer management techniques
Cabbage originated in northern China and is a leafy vegetable of the genus Brassica in the crucifer family, usually referring to Chinese cabbage. It was introduced to the south, and is now cultivated throughout both northern and southern regions.So when is it generally better to plant summer cabbage? What varieties are there? What are the summer management techniques?
When is it generally better to plant summer cabbage?
Summer cabbage is Chinese cabbage that reaches the market between summer and autumn. This period falls in the off-season for vegetable supply, so the economic returns can be considerable. Summer cabbage is generally sown in staggered batches from mid-May to early July.
What varieties of summer cabbage are there?
Summer cabbage is cultivated in the high-temperature seasons of summer and autumn, and is also called “fire cabbage” and “dog-days cabbage”. Representative varieties include Shanghai fire cabbage, Guangzhou ma'er cabbage, and Nanjing Aiza No. 1.
Appendix: Summer management techniques for cabbage
1. Select excellent varieties: choose superior cabbage varieties with strong heat tolerance, strong resistance, and good yield, such as Kangre No. 45, Xiafeng, and Xialu.
2. Sowing period: the suitable sowing period in summer is from early June to the end of July.
3. Land preparation and ridging: after the previous crop is harvested, apply 3000~5000 kg of decomposed organic fertilizer, 75 kg of ternary compound fertilizer, 20 kg of superphosphate, and 10 kg of zinc sulfate per mu. After fertilizing, plow deeply and harrow finely to achieve a level soil surface. To facilitate drainage, it is best to use high ridges or high beds during cultivation, with a ridge spacing of 4l0 cm and a bed width of 100 cm. To prevent the occurrence of diseases and pests, 0.75 kg of thiophanate-methyl can be mixed with 10 kg of fine soil per mu and buried under the ridge.
4. Sowing method: for direct sowing, to save seeds, hole sowing is preferable, with a plant spacing of 33~37 cm and a row spacing of 40 cm, planting 4500~5000 plants per mu, with a seeding rate of 50~100 grams per mu. After sowing, cover with 0.5 cm of fine soil, then rake level and press firm.
5. Field management
1. Thinning and final thinning: carry out the first thinning at the 3~4 leaf stage, and final thinning at the 5~6 leaf stage. When thinning and final thinning, try not to damage the roots, to prevent soft rot of the root system. Keep 4500~5000 plants per mu.
2. Fertilizer and water management: summer temperatures are high and soil moisture evaporates quickly, so the soil should always be kept moist, and uneven dryness and wetness of the soil must be strictly avoided. In hot, dry weather, increase the amount of watering; during rainfall or after rain, drain promptly to prevent waterlogging in the field from causing root rot. Water summer cabbage thoroughly once 10~15 days before head formation, then cultivate and restrict growth to strengthen the seedlings; after watering to restrict growth, apply a heart-strengthening fertilizer once more. During the heading stage, take care to maintain soil moisture, and water promptly when the soil surface turns white. Along with watering, apply another 10 kg of urea or 15 kg of ammonium sulfate per mu, mainly by hole application or furrow application. The application point should be 8~10 cm away from the plants to avoid root damage. Stop watering 5~7 days before harvest.
3. Mulching the vegetable field: to conserve warmth and suppress weeds, cover the vegetable field with wheat straw or rice straw after final thinning.
4. Disease and pest control: the main diseases of summer cabbage are downy mildew and soft rot. Remove diseased plants promptly once they appear. To control downy mildew, spray with 40% phosethyl-Al wettable powder at 200~300 times dilution or 50% ridomil manganese zinc at 500~600 times dilution in the early stage of the disease. For soft rot, in the early stage of the disease, spray each mu with 200~300 grams of Fengchanling mixed with 100 kg of water, or spray with agricultural streptomycin wettable powder at 3000~4000 times dilution. The main pest of summer cabbage is the cabbage caterpillar, which can be controlled with Cascade (kasiike) and Lvbao or Yibianjing.