Content
Chinese cabbage Russians became interested in it as a garden crop not so long ago. Therefore, its cultivation in different regions raises many questions. They're about choice varieties, landing rules. Gardeners want to know when to sow Chinese cabbage for seedlings and open ground.
This vegetable has excellent taste and is considered a dietary product. An interesting fact is that Pekinka can be harvested twice or even three times a year. Some experienced vegetable growers, planting seeds at different times, have fresh cabbage throughout the warm season. To grow this vegetable, you need to know some secrets.
Useful properties of cabbage
Why did the Russians pay attention to Chinese cabbage and start growing it on their plots? The fact is that this vegetable contains a huge amount of vitamins and minerals necessary for the human body. In addition, the value of cabbage is that it:
- Removes radionuclides from the body, strengthens the immune system, reduces the activity of cancer cells.
- Normalizes digestion and blood pressure.
- Regulates blood sugar levels, relieves stress and anxiety.People who consume Beijing tea are less stressed.
- The content of large amounts of calcium and vitamin K strengthens the nervous system and increases blood clotting.
- Vision improves.
- Useful for women during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- Due to its low calorie content, cabbage is recommended for dietary nutrition when losing weight.
- Improves the condition of skin and hair.
There are also contraindications to eating Chinese cabbage for people with high metabolism, liver diseases, and gastrointestinal tract diseases. The vegetable can be consumed in small quantities.
Timing for sowing seeds for seedlings
Chinese cabbage can be grown in different ways:
- seedlings;
- seeds directly into open ground.
Let's figure out when is the best time to sow Chinese cabbage seeds for seedlings:
- First of all, the choice of sowing dates will depend on the time of planting the plants in open ground. If you plan to get your first harvest at the beginning of summer, you will have to grow seedlings. If cabbage is for autumn-winter consumption, then it is better to sow it directly with seeds in mid-July.
- Secondly, you need to decide on the choice of Peking varieties. This will also influence when to plant Chinese cabbage seedlings.
- Thirdly, it is necessary to adjust the timing of sowing cabbage seeds so that by the time they are planted in open ground, the seedlings are successfully formed. High-quality cabbage seedlings should have 4-5 leaves and a strong root system.
- Fourthly, the arrival of spring in the region is crucial.
Experienced gardeners rely on the lunar calendar, but time planting to suit the climate:
As we have already said, the question of when to plant Chinese cabbage seedlings is influenced by the ripening period of the vegetable. Many vegetable growers who grow pekinka prefer hybrid varieties that differ in the growing season. Here are some of them:
| early | mid-season | late |
|---|---|---|
| Manoko, | Cha-Cha | Nika |
| Orange tangerine | Lyubasha | Russian size |
| Vorozheya |
Growing seedlings correctly
Chinese cabbage seedlings are very tender and fragile. The slightest damage to the root system retards growth and reduces yield. Therefore, when growing Chinese cabbage In the seedling method, it is advisable to sow the seeds in separate containers to avoid picking.
Containers for seedlings
As containers for growing cabbage seedlings, most often choose:
- plastic cups;
- peat pots;
- peat tablets.
The Pekinka is picky about soil. Grows well in fertile soil with neutral acidity. You can use ready-made mixtures for seedlings or prepare the soil yourself at home. To do this, mix equal parts garden soil and compost.
Soil preparation
Plant Chinese cabbage need in specially prepared soil. It is heated, poured with boiling water, adding crystals of potassium permanganate. This method allows you to destroy spores of fungal diseases, including blackleg.
In cups, the soil should not reach one and a half centimeters to the edge.
Sowing seeds
Before sowing, uncalibrated seeds are sorted to remove non-viable ones. They are treated in a dark solution of potassium permanganate or special solutions to stimulate growth.
How to properly plant seeds for seedlings and achieve a good harvest? 2-3 seeds are sown in each glass, peat pot or tablet (pre-soaked). The indentation can be made with a regular pencil to 1 cm. Sprinkle the top with soil or peat. The soil is patted down well to create reliable contact between the seed and the substrate. Cover the top with glass or film.
The containers are placed in a warm, well-lit window. High-quality seeds germinate, as a rule, in 3-4 days. When the first shoots appear, the seedlings in cups are transferred to a room with a lower temperature, but with good lighting.
Growing seedlings
We told you when to sow Chinese cabbage for seedlings. But you also need to look after her? Let's look at this issue.
Since 2-3 grains were planted in each container, the seedlings will have to be thinned out. But this should not be done immediately, but when the seedlings grow up. To obtain strong seedlings, leave the strongest root.
Seedlings of Chinese cabbage grown from seeds must be watered in a timely manner with settled water at room temperature. Watering should be moderate so that a swamp does not form. When loosening, do not go deep.When growing seedlings at home, you can use an infusion of wood ash or a pink solution of potassium permanganate as a top dressing.
After about a month, the cabbage seedlings are ready to be planted in the ground. At this time there should be 4-5 true leaves. When planting in the ground, it is more convenient to work with seedlings in peat pots and tablets - they are simply placed in a hole and dug in.
If the seedlings were grown in plastic cups, you can proceed in different ways: cut the container or, pressing on the bottom, carefully remove the cabbage seedlings. Having placed the root in the hole, lightly squeeze the soil around it and water it.
Sowing cabbage seeds
Chinese cabbage can be grown without seedlings - by sowing seeds directly into the ground. The bed needs to be dug up and about 4 kg of compost or humus added to each square.
Markings are made on the leveled bed: the step between rows is 45-50 cm, between seeds is at least 10. Then holes are made, baking soda mixed with hot pepper is added to each along the edge to repel pests living in the soil.
Place 2-3 cabbage seeds in the middle of the hole and sprinkle with soil no more than one centimeter. Having compacted the soil, place a plastic bottle cut from the bottom on top. It remains until 2-3 leaves appear. Watering through the neck. If it’s cold at night, just screw the lid on in the evening.
Of course, beginners have a question about when to sow Chinese cabbage seeds in the ground. This will depend on the region. Spring comes at different times, this affects the warming of the soil and average daily air temperatures.The best time is early or mid-June.
When the plants grow a little, they need to be thinned out so that the distance is sufficient for development. Look how cabbage looks in the photo.
Caring for cabbage in the future comes down to watering, loosening the soil and fertilizing. The soil between the rows should be freed from weed. As a member of the cruciferous family, you will have to fight numerous pests of cabbage.
Tricks of gardeners
Experienced vegetable growers have many tricks that they willingly share with beginners.
- This also applies to the question of when to plant Chinese cabbage seedlings. They do continuous planting, that is, with breaks, thus obtaining seedlings of different ages. The first sowing is done in mid-March, then the harvest can be harvested in late May - early June. If weather conditions do not allow planting in open ground, they plant seedlings in greenhouses, greenhouses or under temporary shelters. This planting of Chinese cabbage seedlings provides seven early vegetables.
Different planting times:
- To prevent the vegetable from blooming, already during the growing of seedlings, reduce the daylight hours to 12-13 hours, covering the window.
- Chinese cabbage plantings are protected not only from frost, but also from heat and prolonged rains. In summer, canvas is used for these purposes. The bed does not overheat, artificial shadow appears. And during rain, the soil is not oversaturated with moisture. In addition, a canvas cape saves plants from cruciferous flea beetle.
- Experienced vegetable growers mulch cabbage plantings and save themselves from weeding.
- If you spray the vegetable with a solution of boric acid, the heads of cabbage will curl better and faster.
When and how to plant Pekinka seedlings with seeds, gardeners themselves decide. And we wish a huge harvest.
