Detailed Explanation of Key Points for Autumn Cultivation Techniques of Cherry Radish
The cherry radish plant height is 20-25 cm, the fleshy root is round with a diameter of 2-3 cm, the root skin is red and the flesh is white, and a single root weighs 15-20 g. It has a delicate texture and is refreshing and delicious. It can be eaten raw, stir-fried, pickled, or used as a side dish, and is deeply welcomed by consumers. At present, it has become a new vegetable type that is easy to cultivate and quick to yield returns.
I. Land Preparation and Fertilization
Cherry radish has strong adaptability to soil, but loose, fertile, well-drained sandy loam that retains water and fertilizer is best. During land preparation, deep plowing, sun-drying the soil, leveling, fine harrowing, and uniform mixing of fertilizer and soil are required. Generally, small flat beds are used for cultivation, with a bed width of 1 m. Because the growth period is relatively short and the fleshy root is relatively small, the requirements for fertilizer type and amount are not very strict. The main approach should be to apply sufficient base fertilizer, and generally no topdressing is needed. Apply 2500 kg of fully decomposed barnyard manure per mu as base fertilizer, and use 5-8 kg of superphosphate as seed fertilizer.
II. Sowing
For open-field autumn cultivation, sowing can be carried out successively from mid-September to early October, with harvests in stages. Generally, drilling is used, with a plant spacing of 3 cm, a row spacing of 10 cm, and a sowing depth of about 1.5 cm, using 100 g of seed per mu. Seeds can be soaked to promote germination before sowing, or direct sowing can be used. Varieties used include Red Jazz, Dutch Red Star Cherry, Japanese Cherry Radish, and others.
III. Field Management
If cherry radish is planted too densely and light is insufficient, the petioles will become longer, the leaf color will become lighter, the lower leaves will yellow and fall off, and the fleshy root will not easily expand. When the cotyledons unfold, carry out one thinning, keeping seedlings with very normal cotyledons and thinning out the rest, and at the same time thin seedlings in relatively dense areas. Final thinning is done when there are 3-4 true leaves.
Special attention should be paid to keeping the soil moist, and watering should be balanced. The soil water content should preferably be 70%-80% of field capacity. If the seedlings grow poorly and show symptoms of fertilizer deficiency, a small amount of quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer can be applied with irrigation water.
The cherry radish plant is relatively small, so timely intertillage and weeding should be carried out to eliminate competition from weeds for nutrients and promote the absorption of nutrients by the radish root system.
IV. Disease and Pest Control
Cherry radish has relatively strong cold resistance, but is not heat tolerant. When the ambient temperature exceeds 25°C, it grows poorly and is also prone to diseases and pests, mainly viral diseases and aphids, so attention should be paid to control.
V. Timely Harvest
Cherry radish generally grows for 25-30 days. When the fleshy root is attractive and bright in color and reaches 2 cm in diameter, harvest can begin successively. Harvesting too early affects yield, while harvesting too late increases fiber and easily causes cracked roots and pithiness.
Cai Shuangwen