Detailed Guide to Growing Napa Cabbage: From Sowing to Harvest
Napa cabbage is a vegetable we are all very familiar with. It contains relatively high levels of vitamins and other nutrients. Today there are all kinds of napa cabbage varieties, so the places suitable for growing napa cabbage are also very wide-ranging. It is grown in every part of our country, and nowadays napa cabbage can be grown in more than just one season - it can be grown in multiple seasons. So how is napa cabbage grown? Follow along with the editor below to learn the methods for growing napa cabbage.
1. Seed Selection and Soil Preparation
Seed selection for napa cabbage is actually not as complicated as everyone thinks. Today's napa cabbage seeds all come with clear labels and instructions. We can select seeds based on the seed instructions, the planting time, and the local climate. Secondly, if you are saving your own seeds, it is best to choose seeds that are plump, grow quickly, have tender leaves, and have strong resistance with no pests or diseases. Napa cabbage has good adaptability to the environment, but to increase yield we can choose to grow it in soil that is fertile, retains water well, drains well, and has a loose top layer with a firm bottom layer. When preparing the soil, level the land, break up the soil finely, dig good drainage ditches, and form ridges, and during this time apply base fertilizer.
2. Sowing and Raising Seedlings
Before sowing and raising seedlings, we must first prepare the seedbed. The seedbed for growing napa cabbage should be on relatively high ground and close to a water source, making watering and drainage convenient. Secondly, the soil should be broken up into small granules, then rake the seedbed smooth, water the seedbed thoroughly first, and then you can sow. After that, cover the seeds with a layer of organic compost, or water them with manure water, and finally cover the seeds with fine soil. Generally, seedlings will emerge in about four to five days.
3. Reasonable Close Planting
When the napa cabbage seedlings have grown four to five leaves (not counting the first two bottom leaves that emerged), we can transplant them. When pulling up the seedlings, it is best to pull them up together with the soil at the base, as this makes the seedlings more likely to survive. On the prepared ground, set the plants at a spacing of 35 cm between rows and 30 cm between plants. This makes later field operations convenient and also makes it less likely to trigger disease. Here the editor also wants to remind everyone that after transplanting, if it is a sunny day, remember to water promptly.
4. Field Management
Field management is mainly divided into three stages. The first stage is seedling-stage management of napa cabbage, mainly to promote growth, speed up the growth rate, and shorten the growth cycle. We need to carry out the first fertilization and intertillage weeding. First we weed and loosen the soil around the napa cabbage, then water it with manure water. The second stage is rosette-stage management of napa cabbage, the most important part of which is "root restraint" - in plain terms, promoting rosette growth. We can apply urea and ammonium bicarbonate in holes, combining this with intertillage. The final stage is head-forming management of napa cabbage. We need to carry out scientific management according to the growth patterns of napa cabbage. At this stage we need at least three more fertilizations, so that nutrients can be fully utilized, and if necessary we also need to provide auxiliary head-forming management for the napa cabbage.
5. Pest and Disease Control
For pest and disease management in napa cabbage, we need to carry out reasonable control according to the different growth stages of the cabbage. First, at the seedling stage of napa cabbage, we mainly aim to control aphids and cabbage caterpillars. There are now harmless pesticides we can use for spraying. Second, at the rosette stage of napa cabbage, in addition to controlling aphids and cabbage caterpillars, there are also some diseases, such as downy mildew, black spot, and so on. We need to use specialized treatments and strengthen field management. Finally, at the head-forming stage of napa cabbage, the main targets are again aphids and cabbage caterpillars. For specific treatments, please consult a professional.