A Detailed Guide to the Planting Time and Methods of Chicken Feather Greens
Chicken feather greens is the common name for the seedlings of pak choi or green bok choy, plants of the cruciferous family. It is extremely nutritious and rich in vitamins, with the benefits of relieving nervous stress and supplementing calcium. It is deeply loved by consumers on the market and has high planting returns. So when is the best time to plant chicken feather greens? How should they be planted? Let's take a look.
1. Planting Time
Chicken feather greens can be planted all year round in all four seasons. In spring, they can be planted in greenhouse sheds from November to February; in summer, they are planted from April to August; and August to November is the autumn and winter planting period.
2. Variety Selection
The choice of variety differs depending on the season. When planting in spring, choose varieties with strong cold resistance, such as 'February Slow' and 'Winter Evergreen'; in summer, when temperatures are extremely high, choose varieties with strong heat tolerance, such as 'Heat-Resistant 605' and 'Summer Winter Green'; for autumn and winter planting, the early stage has suitable temperatures while the later stage is colder, so varieties such as 'Short Dwarf Green', 'Winter Evergreen' and 'Shanghai Green' are generally chosen.
3. Land Preparation and Fertilization
Chicken feather greens have an extremely short growth cycle, so one week before plowing, apply 1000 kg of decomposed farmyard manure per mu as base fertilizer, bury it into the soil through plowing, then level and harrow finely, and then make beds. In spring, they are mostly planted in greenhouses, so shallow beds are generally made; in summer, which is a high-temperature and rainy season, deep furrows and high beds should be made to facilitate irrigation and drainage; in autumn and winter, the beds should be higher than in spring but lower than in summer.
4. Sowing
When sowing, scatter the seeds evenly over the surface of the bed. After sowing, lightly rake the bed surface to cover the seeds, then press down firmly, and water according to the soil's dryness and moisture. Generally, sow 2 kg per mu. In summer, sowing takes place during the high-temperature season, so from sowing to emergence, shade measures must be taken to prevent strong light from directly scorching the seedlings to death. Also, in dry weather, water thoroughly once before sowing, and sow after the water has seeped into the soil. Before emergence, keep the soil moist at all times. Due to the high summer temperatures and lower survival rate, the sowing rate is also larger, generally 2-4 kg per mu. Autumn sowing also coincides with a high-temperature period. If the soil is too dry at sowing time, water first as well. The sowing method and sowing rate are the same as in spring.
5. Field Management
Chicken feather greens are relatively simple to grow. With sufficient base fertilizer, generally only two top dressings are needed before harvest. The first top dressing is after the cotyledons unfold, applying 5 kg of urea per mu; it is recommended to dilute the fertilizer with water when applying. The second is after two true leaves appear, applying 10 kg of urea per mu. At the same time, keep the soil moist and water frequently, but avoid flooding irrigation. Also pay attention to the intrusion of pests and diseases. The main disease is viral disease, and the main pests include aphids, cabbage caterpillars and diamondback moths, so their prevention and control should be carried out well. In spring, they can generally be harvested 40-50 days after sowing; in summer, 20-25 days; in autumn and winter, 25-40 days.
The above is the planting time and methods for chicken feather greens. We hope it can help you. If you want to learn more about vegetable growing knowledge, please follow us.