Detailed Guide to Greenhouse Cultivation and Management Techniques for Baby Cabbage
Baby cabbage is called bok choy in many places and is extremely popular. It is sweet and delicious, loved by many people, and as its market demand grows, many people have also started growing baby cabbage in greenhouses. Below, the editor brings you greenhouse baby cabbage cultivation and management techniques. Let's take a look.
1. Variety Selection
Baby cabbage varieties should be selected according to seasonal changes. Baby cabbage sown in spring should use varieties with good cold tolerance and bolting resistance, such as Gaoli Yu Baby and Mini Star, because spring temperatures are relatively low; while summer temperatures are relatively high, so varieties with good heat tolerance, early hearting, and disease resistance should be selected, such as Libeibei; autumn temperatures are cool, so the requirements for varieties are not high, but no matter which variety is sown, one should choose a variety suited to local needs, paying attention to factors such as fast hearting, uniform growth, uniform thickness from top to bottom, and disease resistance.
2. Temperature Requirements
Baby cabbage is a semi-cold-tolerant vegetable. Its optimum growing temperature is between 5-25 degrees, and the optimum temperature for seed germination is 25 degrees. Therefore, in low-temperature or high-temperature seasons, germination treatment is needed for it to sprout smoothly. The optimum temperature for leaf and head growth is 15-25 degrees. When the temperature is below 15 degrees, its growth will be extremely slow; when the temperature is below 5 degrees, frost damage is likely to occur; and when the temperature is above 25 degrees, it may be infected with viral disease. Therefore, temperature regulation must be well controlled during greenhouse cultivation.
3. Fertilization
Baby cabbage grows quickly and has a relatively high demand for fertilizer. In addition to applying sufficient base fertilizer at sowing, 10-15 kg of compound fertilizer per mu is still needed as base fertilizer, and for calcium-deficient or alkaline soil, 15 kg of superphosphate should be added, which helps baby cabbage absorb calcium. Throughout the growing period, topdressing and irrigation should be combined. During the seedling stage, apply a small amount of nitrogen fertilizer as a seedling-promoting fertilizer. After the plants enter the rosette stage, more fertilizer needs to be provided, with 10 kg each of urea and potassium sulfate applied per mu 1-2 times, or foliar spraying of 0.2% monopotassium phosphate 2 times. In the late growth stage, topdressing should be carried out according to the specific growth conditions of the plants.
4. Watering
During the seedling stage, water timely when there is drought. The watering principle is to water frequently with a small amount of water. At other times, watering is generally unnecessary; just keep the soil moist. In the early rosette stage of baby cabbage, water should be properly controlled to restrain seedling growth, and after restraining seedling growth, irrigation should be done promptly to avoid drought affecting the vegetable's water requirements for growth. The rosette stage of baby cabbage is the peak period of water demand for the plants, requiring frequent light watering. The goal is for no water to be visible on the ridge surface while the roots are not short of water. Do not flood-irrigate, to avoid excessive vegetative growth of the plants, or diseases induced when humidity is too high. Stop watering one week before harvest.
The above is an introduction to greenhouse baby cabbage cultivation and management techniques. We hope it can help you. To learn more related knowledge, please follow us.