How to Water and Fertilize Autumn Cabbage? Detailed Explanation of the Latest Management Methods
Autumn is the season for cabbage. At this time, in many areas where planting was done earlier, the cabbage has already sprouted. However, to manage cabbage well and achieve a high, bountiful harvest, watering and fertilizing are very important. Watering and fertilizing at each growth stage should be done according to the different requirements of the plants; never do it blindly, so as to achieve high yield. So how should autumn cabbage be watered and fertilized? Let's take a look together.
1. Germination stage
Cabbage needs very little water during the germination stage, but the temperature at this time is relatively high and the soil evaporates quickly. If watering after sowing, it should be done with one watering to bring about uniform seedling emergence; watering again very easily leads to soil crusting. At this time, it is best to water before sowing or just after sowing. During the germination stage, there is generally no need to fertilize, so as not to hinder seed germination or even possibly cause the seeds not to germinate.
2. Seedling stage
The root system of cabbage seedlings is relatively shallow and the amount of growth is very small, but the growth rate is relatively fast, so it should be watered once at the right time to replenish moisture, with watering adjusted according to rainfall conditions. If it is a year with severe pests and diseases, the number of waterings should be appropriately reduced so that the seedlings grow slowly and the soil moisture and temperature are maintained for a certain period, so as to avoid severe pests and diseases in the seedlings. Fertilization at the seedling stage generally needs to be done twice. The first time is when the seedlings have grown 3-4 true leaves, applying 8-10 kg of ammonium sulfate per mu on both sides of the seedlings, and watering promptly after fertilizing. The second time is at the final thinning stage, opening furrows on both sides of the cabbage ridges and applying about 15 kg of ammonium sulfate.
3. Rosette stage
During the rosette stage, cabbage has an extremely fast growth amount and growth rate. At this time, sufficient watering must be ensured to make it grow vigorously. Generally, watering is done immediately after topdressing. In the later period, do not water blindly; it is best to wait until the soil shows signs of drought before watering. This can avoid excessive vegetative growth caused by watering. At this time, fertilization is still done by opening furrows on both sides of the cabbage ridges, generally applying 10 kg of high-phosphate calcium and 20 kg of ammonium sulfate per mu, along with hilling and watering.
4. Head-forming stage
Cabbage takes a relatively long time to form heads. This is an important period for forming high-quality cabbage, so the demand for fertilizer and water is relatively large. After topdressing before the start of head formation, water continuously twice, and afterward water once every 5-6 days. It should be noted that during the head-forming period, the soil must always be kept moist, and watering should be stopped 5-7 days before harvest, so as to avoid too much moisture in the leaves making them unsuitable for storage. Fertilize once in the middle of head formation, applying about 15 kg of ammonium sulfate per mu with the water.
The above is an introduction to how autumn cabbage should be watered and fertilized. I hope it can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please follow us.