The Latest Autumn Chinese Cabbage Planting Time
Autumn is the most suitable time to plant Chinese cabbage in the south. In the subtropical regions of the south, it is mainly planted in autumn and winter; in winter it can be harvested or left in the ground. After spring, cabbage will bolt, and in summer only baby bok choy can be grown. So it is mainly sown in autumn. So how to determine the sowing time for autumn planting of Chinese cabbage is a problem that puzzles some growers. Let's solve it together.
1. Planting time
The main time for autumn cabbage is sowing around the Beginning of Autumn, though of course it is best to determine it by the weather. If the temperature is too high, you cannot sow even at the Beginning of Autumn, and you can postpone it. For late-maturing varieties with a long growing period, you can sow a few days earlier when the weather is suitable; for medium-maturing varieties with a short growing period, sowing a few days later is also fine. After all, seedlings do not grow well in high temperatures. Once the temperature turns cool, diseases will also decrease.
2. Sowing method
It is best to plant in soil that has never grown cruciferous vegetables. Open a furrow 8 cm deep and sow. After watering the soil until thoroughly wet, scatter the seeds evenly in the furrow. Cover with about a centimeter of soil; do not cover with soil that is too thick. A shallow covering of soil is enough. About one jin of seed per mu is enough. Water every day to keep it moist. If the temperature is high, water in the evening to cool it down, and each watering must soak through.
3. Raising seedlings and transplanting
After germination, you only need to keep it moist, and it will gradually grow into seedlings. Thin the seedlings when they have grown 2 true leaves; this is mainly to remove weak and diseased seedlings. When they have grown about 5 true leaves, they can be transplanted to the field. Transplant on a cloudy day with no rain, water after transplanting, and then water every morning and evening. Because during the seedling recovery period the roots have not yet taken hold and cannot absorb water, you must keep it moist so that growth can resume as quickly as possible.
4. Water and fertilizer management
Chinese cabbage needs relatively more nutrients, so mainly apply sufficient base fertilizer and use enough farmyard manure, which has a long fertilizer effect. Topdressing should be based on the stage. Before transplanting, use 20 jin of ammonium sulfate per mu, watering and fertilizing, mainly to promote growth; after transplanting, use 40 jin of ammonium sulfate per mu, mainly to promote the growth of stems and leaves; just before head formation, apply 30 jin of superphosphate; finally, in the middle stage of head formation, apply 30 jin of ammonium sulfate.
Autumn is the main time for planting Chinese cabbage in both the south and the north, and the planting time is generally around the Beginning of Autumn, when the temperature is suitable. For small-scale planting, you can sow directly; for large-scale planting, you need to raise seedlings, which makes it easier to survive. There is no need to fill in gaps in the field when seedlings have not emerged.