How to Grow Red Cabbage? A Detailed Guide to the Latest Planting Methods
Cabbage is a very common vegetable for us, but red cabbage is still relatively rare on the market. Red cabbage is a new type of cabbage vegetable introduced from abroad, also called purple cabbage. Now quite a few places have successfully trial-grown red cabbage, so how exactly should red cabbage be grown? Below is the red cabbage growing method that the editor wants to share with everyone. Let's take a look together.
1. Region Selection
Red cabbage is relatively suited to growing in a mild climate. It has a certain cold resistance and can also withstand a certain level of heat, but the lowest planting temperature must not be below 5 to 8 degrees, and the highest temperature must not be above 35 degrees. This is also why red cabbage is relatively rare on the market. So when choosing a planting site, we must take these issues into consideration, choosing a place with relatively small temperature differences for planting. The planting site should be relatively flat and fertile, with convenient drainage and irrigation, and also in a place with relatively convenient transportation.
2. Sowing and Raising Seedlings
Red cabbage is generally sown from August to September each year. Of course, the temperature of the planting site during this period also has a great influence, so the sowing time can be reasonably arranged according to the temperature. At the same time, in a small number of areas, sowing can also be done around March each year. Red cabbage cultivation usually requires raising seedlings first and then transplanting and setting them out. The seedbed should be at a relatively high elevation, and the soil should be relatively fine. Before sowing, the seedbed needs to be watered thoroughly, which helps the seeds sprout. If you are worried that the temperature is too low, you can cover it with a layer of plastic film at the end to keep it warm.
3. Seedling Management
After sowing, red cabbage will sprout in about five days. If plastic film was used as cover when sowing, it needs to be uncovered in time, and then the growth of the red cabbage seedlings should be checked. If the soil in the seedbed is relatively dry, water needs to be added in time, which is beneficial to the growth of the red cabbage seedlings. At the same time, we also need to check the growth of weeds in the seedbed and remove the weeds by hand so as not to affect the growth and development of the seedlings.
4. Reasonable Close Planting
Generally, after about ten days, red cabbage seedlings can basically grow five or six true leaves, and at this point we can transplant them. Before that, we need to prepare the planting site by tilling the soil, level it as much as possible, fill in low-lying areas in the field with soil, then spread sufficient fertilizer, and then make ridges and ditches for planting. Generally, ensure that 2,000 red cabbage plants can be planted per mu, so the best planting spacing is about 60 cm between rows and 50 cm between plants. At the same time, the plant spacing can also be adjusted according to the fertility of the soil.
5. Field Management
After setting out, the field temperature should be maintained at around 15 to 20 degrees, so as to ensure the normal growth of red cabbage. Next is timely watering, which is beneficial to the growth of the red cabbage root system. Since the growth of red cabbage requires a large amount of nutrients, in addition to the base fertilizer, at least three to four topdressings are needed. Organic fertilizer, nitrogen fertilizer, and manure water can be used to promote its growth, but when it is heading, an appropriate amount of potassium fertilizer needs to be added. At the same time, calcium deficiency in the soil should also be avoided, and calcium-containing fertilizer should also be supplemented in an appropriate amount. Each time fertilizer is applied, it can be combined with hoeing and watering, which can promote the absorption of nutrients.
6. Pest and Disease Control
The most common diseases of red cabbage are black rot and soft rot. Both of these diseases are fungal infectious diseases caused by improper water management in the field, and they seriously affect the quality of red cabbage, so we can use zhimeisu for treatment. Downy mildew and sclerotinia sometimes also appear. These two diseases basically occur frequently in summer during high temperature and rainy periods, and chlorothalonil and dimethachlon can be used respectively for treatment. Finally, there are also some pests that harm red cabbage leaves, such as aphids and cabbage caterpillars, which can be controlled with a 3500-fold solution of fenvalerate.