Detailed Explanation of Key Points for Autumn Chinese Cabbage Cultivation Techniques
Autumn Chinese Cabbage Cultivation Techniques
I. Types and Varieties
(I) Types
The Chinese cabbage subspecies can be divided into four varieties: “loose-leaf”, “semi-heading”, “flowering heart” and “heading”. Among them, the heading variety has three ecotypes: oval, flat-head and cylindrical. The above four varieties and the three ecotypes of the heading variety belong to the basic types. In addition, they were crossed with each other to produce the following secondary types:
(1) Flat-head cylindrical type
(2) Flat-head oval type
(3) Cylindrical type
(4) Flowering heart cylindrical type
(5) Flowering heart oval type
(II) Main Cultivated Varieties
1. Loose-leaf variety
2. Semi-heading variety
3. Flowering heart variety
4. Heading variety (eight types in total)
(1) Oval type
(2) Flat-head type
(3) Cylindrical type
(4) Flat-head cylindrical type
(5) Flat-head oval type
(6) Cylindrical type
(7) Flowering heart cylindrical type
(8) Flowering heart oval type
II. Growth and Development Characteristics
The life cycle of Chinese cabbage is divided into the vegetative growth stage and the reproductive growth stage.
1. Vegetative growth stage
(1) Germination stage: On the third day after sowing, the cotyledons fully unfold, and at the same time two basal leaves emerge. This is the critical feature marking the end of the germination stage.
(2) Seedling stage: 7-8 days after sowing, the basal leaves grow to the same size as the cotyledons and arrange themselves perpendicular to the cotyledons in a cross shape. Then the plant grows the first phyllotaxis of middle leaves on the aboveground part and develops into a seedling.
(3) Rosette stage: During this period, the leaves of the second to third leaf rings of middle leaves grow. In the late rosette stage, new leaf primordia form and grow into small terminal leaves (head leaves). When all rosette leaves have fully grown, the small head leaves at the center of the plant fold and wrap together in a manner of folding, overlapping or twisting, showing the phenomenon of hearting. This is the critical feature marking the end of the rosette stage.
(4) Heading stage: During this period, the terminal leaves grow to form a head. This stage can be further divided into early, middle and late phases. Early phase——the outer leaves of the head grow rapidly first to form the outline of the head, and the appearance of the head has taken shape. This is the critical feature marking the end of the early phase. Middle phase——the inner leaves of the head grow rapidly and fill the interior. Late phase——the volume of the head no longer increases, and only the interior continues to fill. At this time, the outer leaves gradually senesce, and the leaf margins turn yellow.
(5) Dormancy stage: When Chinese cabbage encounters low temperatures, it enters a state of forced dormancy, relying on the nutrients and water stored in the head to survive. During dormancy, it continues to form small flower buds in preparation for the transition to reproductive growth.
2. Reproductive growth stage
(1) Bolting stage: The overwintered seed plants begin to grow in early spring of the following year, and the flower stalk begins to elongate, entering the bolting stage.
(2) Flowering stage: After the first flower opens, Chinese cabbage enters the flowering stage, and the flowers on the whole plant open successively. At the same time, the flower branches grow rapidly,
gradually forming primary, secondary and tertiary branches to expand the flowering and fruiting plant body.
(3) Pod-setting stage: After flowering ends, the plant enters the pod-setting stage. During this period, the flower stalk and flower branches stop growing, and the pods and seeds grow vigorously until the pods turn yellow and the seeds mature.
(I) Types
The Chinese cabbage subspecies can be divided into four varieties: “loose-leaf”, “semi-heading”, “flowering heart” and “heading”. Among them, the heading variety has three ecotypes: oval, flat-head and cylindrical. The above four varieties and the three ecotypes of the heading variety belong to the basic types. In addition, they were crossed with each other to produce the following secondary types:
(1) Flat-head cylindrical type
(2) Flat-head oval type
(3) Cylindrical type
(4) Flowering heart cylindrical type
(5) Flowering heart oval type
(II) Main Cultivated Varieties
1. Loose-leaf variety
2. Semi-heading variety
3. Flowering heart variety
4. Heading variety (eight types in total)
(1) Oval type
(2) Flat-head type
(3) Cylindrical type
(4) Flat-head cylindrical type
(5) Flat-head oval type
(6) Cylindrical type
(7) Flowering heart cylindrical type
(8) Flowering heart oval type
II. Growth and Development Characteristics
The life cycle of Chinese cabbage is divided into the vegetative growth stage and the reproductive growth stage.
1. Vegetative growth stage
(1) Germination stage: On the third day after sowing, the cotyledons fully unfold, and at the same time two basal leaves emerge. This is the critical feature marking the end of the germination stage.
(2) Seedling stage: 7-8 days after sowing, the basal leaves grow to the same size as the cotyledons and arrange themselves perpendicular to the cotyledons in a cross shape. Then the plant grows the first phyllotaxis of middle leaves on the aboveground part and develops into a seedling.
(3) Rosette stage: During this period, the leaves of the second to third leaf rings of middle leaves grow. In the late rosette stage, new leaf primordia form and grow into small terminal leaves (head leaves). When all rosette leaves have fully grown, the small head leaves at the center of the plant fold and wrap together in a manner of folding, overlapping or twisting, showing the phenomenon of hearting. This is the critical feature marking the end of the rosette stage.
(4) Heading stage: During this period, the terminal leaves grow to form a head. This stage can be further divided into early, middle and late phases. Early phase——the outer leaves of the head grow rapidly first to form the outline of the head, and the appearance of the head has taken shape. This is the critical feature marking the end of the early phase. Middle phase——the inner leaves of the head grow rapidly and fill the interior. Late phase——the volume of the head no longer increases, and only the interior continues to fill. At this time, the outer leaves gradually senesce, and the leaf margins turn yellow.
(5) Dormancy stage: When Chinese cabbage encounters low temperatures, it enters a state of forced dormancy, relying on the nutrients and water stored in the head to survive. During dormancy, it continues to form small flower buds in preparation for the transition to reproductive growth.
2. Reproductive growth stage
(1) Bolting stage: The overwintered seed plants begin to grow in early spring of the following year, and the flower stalk begins to elongate, entering the bolting stage.
(2) Flowering stage: After the first flower opens, Chinese cabbage enters the flowering stage, and the flowers on the whole plant open successively. At the same time, the flower branches grow rapidly,
gradually forming primary, secondary and tertiary branches to expand the flowering and fruiting plant body.
(3) Pod-setting stage: After flowering ends, the plant enters the pod-setting stage. During this period, the flower stalk and flower branches stop growing, and the pods and seeds grow vigorously until the pods turn yellow and the seeds mature.