Choy Sum Planting Methods and Key Cultivation Techniques

Choy sum is a vegetable we often see on our daily dining table. It is also called caitai or caitai. It is rich in vitamins, other trace elements, and nutrients. Especially now that living standards have improved, people pay more attention to balancing meat and vegetables, which is better for health, and eating more green vegetables is greatly beneficial to the body. So today let us take a look at how choy sum is grown.

1. Variety Selection

There are now many varieties of choy sum, such as red choy sum, white choy sum, Sijiu choy sum, green choy sum, willow-leaf choy sum, and others. Therefore, we need to choose suitable varieties for planting according to the local climate, planting conditions, market demand, and market conditions, so as to obtain the greatest economic benefit. For example, in the Hunan region, it is more suitable to plant red choy sum; its sales, price, and the local climate and environment are all relatively suitable for planting it.

2. Timely Sowing

There are now many varieties of choy sum, so different varieties of choy sum can be planted in different seasons. Secondly, the technology for off-season vegetable cultivation is now increasingly complete, so there is no clear regulation on planting time. However, in general, planting is carried out in March each year and in August and September each year. Choy sum planted in these two time periods belongs to the normal planting time and is the best time for choy sum growth. At the same time, choy sum planted during this period is of better quality.

3. Sowing Methods

The three most commonly used planting methods for choy sum are direct seeding, drilling, and seedling transplanting. Direct seeding mainly means evenly scattering the seeds on the prepared ground, and after the seedlings emerge, thinning and filling gaps are carried out. Generally, thinning is carried out at a spacing of 20 to 30 cm per plant, and only two seedlings need to be left per plant. For drilling, first open small furrows 10 cm wide and 3 to 5 cm deep at a row spacing of 30 cm, then evenly scatter the seeds into the furrows and cover them with soil. Finally, after the seedlings emerge, thin and fill gaps at a spacing of about 25 cm per plant. For seedling transplanting, choy sum seedlings need to be raised first, and then planted at a spacing of 30 to 35 cm per row and 20 to 25 cm per plant.

4. Field Management

Field management of choy sum mainly consists of fertilizing, watering, and weeding. Fertilizing needs to be carried out according to the growth habits of choy sum. The first fertilization is generally after planting, the second fertilization is when choy sum begins to form, and then fertilization is carried out after each harvest of choy sum. Each fertilization can be combined with weeding, which can reduce nutrient loss and at the same time promote nutrient absorption. Choy sum has a relatively large demand for water, so we should keep the field moisture at around 70 percent. When there is no rainfall, water about once every week. Finally, when there is a lot of rain, the water should be drained from the field in time so as not to affect the growth of choy sum.

5. Pest and Disease Control

Choy sum now has relatively strong resistance and basically has no diseases. The most common ones are cabbage aphids, leaf rollers, and diamondback moths. These pests mainly harm the stems and leaves of choy sum, and the main edible part of choy sum is the tender stems and leaves it grows. When pest damage occurs, we can use trichlorfon or dimethoate emulsion for treatment. Finally, note that no pesticide can be sprayed about half a month before harvest, as this will affect the quality of choy sum and in severe cases may even cause food poisoning.

6. Reasonable Harvesting

Choy sum can be harvested in multiple rounds. Generally, harvesting is carried out when choy sum has grown to about 15 to 20 cm. Usually the choy sum is cut off from the plant base, and then fertilization and watering are carried out. The same steps are repeated after each harvest, and basically new choy sum can be harvested again about every four to five days. Each crop can be harvested at least ten to twenty times.