A detailed guide to the planting time and methods of baby bok choy
Baby bok choy is the common name for the seedlings of pak choi or bok choy, plants of the cruciferous family. It is extremely nutritious and rich in vitamins, and has the effect of relieving nervous stress and supplementing calcium. It is well loved by consumers on the market, and its cultivation brings high returns. So when is the best time to plant baby bok choy? How should it be planted? Let's take a look.
1. Planting time
Baby bok choy can be planted all year round in all four seasons. In spring it can be planted in greenhouse tunnels from November to February, in summer from April to August, and August to November is the planting time for autumn and winter.
2. Variety selection
The choice of variety differs depending on the season. For spring planting, choose varieties with strong cold resistance, such as February Slow and Winter Evergreen; summer temperatures are extremely high, so choose varieties with strong heat tolerance, such as Heat-Resistant 605 and Summer Winter Green; for autumn and winter planting, the early period has suitable temperatures while the later period is colder, so varieties such as Dwarf Resistant Green, Winter Evergreen and Shanghai Green are generally chosen.
3. Land preparation and fertilisation
Baby bok choy has an extremely short growth cycle, so one week before ploughing, apply 1000 kg of decomposed farmyard manure per mu as a base fertiliser, bury it into the soil through ploughing, then level and harrow it fine, and then make the beds. In spring it is mostly grown in greenhouses, so shallow beds are generally made; summer is a hot and rainy season, so deep furrows and high beds should be made, which is good for irrigation and drainage; autumn and winter beds should be higher than in spring but lower than in summer.
4. Sowing
When sowing, scatter the seeds evenly over the surface of the bed. After sowing, lightly rake the bed surface to cover the seeds, then tread it firm and water according to the dryness of the soil. Generally 2 kg of seed is sown per mu. Sowing in summer falls in the hot season, so from sowing to emergence, shade measures must be taken to prevent strong light from scorching the seedlings to death; moreover, as the weather is dry, water thoroughly once before sowing, and sow after the water has seeped into the soil. Before emergence, keep the soil moist at all times. Summer heat leads to a lower survival rate, so the sowing rate is also larger, generally 2-4 kg per mu. Autumn sowing also falls in a period of high temperatures; if the soil is too dry at sowing, water first as well, and the sowing method and sowing rate are the same as in spring.
5. Field management
Growing baby bok choy is relatively simple. With sufficient base fertiliser, generally only two top dressings are needed before harvest. The first top dressing is after the cotyledons unfold, applying 5 kg of urea per mu; it is recommended to dilute the top dressing with water and pour it on. The second is after two true leaves appear, applying 10 kg of urea per mu. At the same time, keep the soil moist and water frequently, but avoid flooding irrigation. Also watch out for pests and diseases: the main disease is viral disease, and the main pests are aphids, cabbage caterpillars, diamondback moths and so on, so their control should be done well. Spring sowing can generally be harvested after 40-50 days, summer after 20-25 days, and autumn and winter after 25-40 days.
The above is the planting time and methods of baby bok choy. We hope it helps you. To learn more about vegetable growing, please follow us.