Detailed Explanation of Choy Sum Planting Time and Fertilization Technical Points

Choy sum, also called bok choy bolt, water bok choy flower, is one of the vegetables unique to southern China, and is now introduced and grown all over the world. Whether stir-fried plain or used in noodle soup, choy sum is a great match, and it is rich in certain nutrients. During choy sum cultivation, fertilizer is generally used to increase yield. Below, let us take a look at the introduction to when choy sum is generally planted and the key points of fertilization techniques.

1. When is choy sum generally planted?

Although choy sum can be planted all year round, the climate environments of different places are not the same, so the planting time also differs. If unsuitable vegetables are planted in an unsuitable season, it will also make survival difficult and growth hard. Therefore, planting time is extremely important. It is generally planted around March in spring or from August to September in autumn. This period is the common time for planting choy sum, and it is also the best period for choy sum growth, bringing an obvious increase in yield.

2. Key points of choy sum fertilization techniques

Choy sum is a vegetable with a short growth cycle and a large amount of growth, and it requires a sufficient supply of fertilizer and water throughout the whole growth period. Among the three major nutrient elements, choy sum absorbs the most nitrogen, followed by potassium, and the least phosphorus. Because its edible part is mainly the flower stalk (stalk leaves and inflorescence), fertilization must ensure sufficient vegetative growth in the early stage and also allow timely development of the flower stalk in the later stage, so that the flower stalk can be thick and high quality. Therefore, not only is it necessary to apply enough base fertilizer before sowing, but timely and sufficient topdressing is also indispensable.

1. Base fertilizer

Choy sum is a fast-growing vegetable with shallow roots, a short growth period, and high planting density, so applying enough base fertilizer is necessary. Generally, apply 80-100 kg of organic fertilizer per mu and about 40 kg of microbial inoculant to create a good root growth environment and meet the nutritional needs of the entire growth cycle.

2. Topdressing

Seedling stage: apply nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizer for topdressing, with nitrogen fertilizer as the main component;

Leaf growth stage: apply nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizer for topdressing, with nitrogen fertilizer as the main component;

Late growth stage: apply nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizer for topdressing, with potassium fertilizer as the main component.

If the soil is insufficient in organic matter, organic fertilizer can be supplemented appropriately.

In addition, if some deficiency symptoms appear, the corresponding trace element fertilizer needs to be supplemented.

When choy sum has 4-5 leaves and a seedling age of 18-22 days, the root system is basically well developed and complete. At this time, part of the overly dense seedlings can be transplanted to new spots for final planting, and the plant spacing and row spacing for the seedlings planted in new pots can be 3-5 cm. The remaining seedlings should also maintain a seedling spacing of 3-5 cm, so that the seedlings have enough nutritional area and excessive density does not cause spindly growth. When transplanting, a stick can be used to lift them out with soil for transplanting. During final planting, care should be taken to damage the roots as little as possible to help survival and recovery, and water promptly after final planting.

Choy sum can be planted year-round. Its fertilizer requirements are similar to those of bok choy. Generally, choy sum cultivation should apply enough base fertilizer according to the soil quality and the fertilizer situation of the previous crop, and at the same time topdress timely according to growth conditions.