Favorable days for sowing Chinese cabbage seeds in 2024 according to the moon

Growing Chinese cabbage is accessible to both experienced farmers and novice gardeners. It's easy to care for, grows quickly, and tolerates low temperatures well.

Agronomists are determining favorable days for planting Chinese cabbage seedlings in 2024 according to the lunar calendar. Sowing seeds on specific dates promotes intensive plant development, increases yield, and improves disease resistance.

Influence of the Moon's position

The relative positions of a planet and its natural satellite influence the biological processes occurring in plants. For those planning to grow cabbage according to the lunar calendar, it's worth familiarizing yourself with the general methods for determining optimal dates for gardening. Favorable days are calculated based on the satellite's position in the zodiac signs and the current phases.

The new and full moons, the waxing and waning moons—these are the four periods that are taken into account when gardening. During the first period, only moistening and loosening the soil is permitted. Sowing or planting any plants is not recommended. During the full moon, thinning or weeding is recommended, as well as treatments against diseases and pests. It is best to avoid pinching vegetable crops during these periods.

The waxing moon affects the above-ground portion of plants. During this period, sowing, planting, and transplanting vegetables that grow above ground are carried out. You can also water the soil and feed cabbage with mineral fertilizers. The waning moon affects the root system of plants. During these days, it is recommended to:

• thinning;
• treatment against diseases or pests;
• fertilizing with organic fertilizers;
• harvesting.

Deadlines

Experienced gardeners rely on their years of experience growing vegetables to determine approximate sowing dates. However, beginners or those sowing Chinese cabbage for the first time should carefully consider the timing of sowing the seeds to force the seedlings. The optimal time for sowing depends on the growing climate zone, weather conditions, variety, and lunar cycle.

Favorable days according to the lunar calendar

According to the position of the Earth's satellite in the sky, the most favorable time for Chinese cabbage is the first week after the new moon. During this time, soil moisture rises closer to the surface, which has a beneficial effect on root development. The vegetable develops quickly, forming a strong stem that doesn't stretch upward. It's best to avoid any gardening during the new and full moons.

Table. Favorable numbers for 2024:

Unfavorable days:

• January: 10-12, 24-26.
• February: 9-11, 23-25.
• March: 9-11, 24-26.
• April: 7-9, 23-25.
• May: 7-9, 22-24.
• June: 5-7, 21-23.
• July: 5-7, 20-22.

The rest are neutral.

By climate zones

Strong seedlings can be planted 30-40 days after germination. This date is used as a guide when determining the approximate date for sowing seeds. Subtract the seedling growth period from the estimated time you plan to plant cabbage. Within this range, select the dates recommended by the lunar calendar for sowing seeds for seedlings. Approximate sowing dates for different regions:

1. In southern regions, where spring can begin as early as the end of February, seedlings can be planted in the second half of April.
2. In the Moscow region, frosts prevent early transplanting of seedlings to their permanent beds. This procedure begins in mid-May. In the Leningrad region, warm weather arrives a week later, delaying seed sowing by approximately 7-10 days.
3. In Siberia and the Urals, the optimal planting time is at the end of June.

Depending on the variety

Due to the diversity of varieties, sowing cabbage seeds for seedlings has its own unique characteristics. In cold climates, when the first frosts occur as early as September, mid-season varieties are preferred (they store better).

Plant in mid-July—the vegetable will have time to form dense heads before fall. In regions with long, mild autumns, this late-ripening crop is successfully grown outdoors. Seedlings are planted from late July to early August.

The influence of cultivation method on sowing date

The seeding date depends on the planned cultivation method. When grown outdoors, the plant is adversely affected by sudden temperature fluctuations and night frosts. These factors lead to the cessation of head development and the emergence of seed stalks. In this case, the sowing date is chosen so that the vegetable is not exposed to these harmful effects during its development.

When planting in a greenhouse, temperature fluctuations are somewhat smoothed out. Using a cover allows for an extended timeframe for optimal seed placement. Depending on the greenhouse type, its design, and reliability, seedling cultivation can begin 1-3 weeks earlier. In heated greenhouses, 2-3 harvests can be obtained in a single season. Seedling forcing begins 1.5-2 months before the planned seedling sowing in open ground.

The nuances of forcing seedlings

Growing Chinese cabbage from seedlings has a number of positive aspects, including early fruiting and increased resistance to disease and pests.

Growing cabbage seedlings requires its own nuances. Before starting, it's necessary to prepare the container and soil for planting the seeds, germinate the seed, harden it, and disinfect it.

Substrate and container

Initially, it's worth preparing separate containers for the seedlings. Cabbage doesn't transplant well and takes a long time to establish roots in a new location. For this reason, it's best to use peat pots or pellets. These can be placed in the garden bed along with the plant. The pot's walls will rot over time, allowing the roots to develop in the main soil.

To fill the containers, use a nutrient substrate. You can purchase it at a garden center or prepare it yourself. The seedling soil mixture consists of peat, humus, and fertile soil. Typically, they are mixed in a ratio of 5:3:2. Well-rotted sawdust from any tree species can be added to the fertile soil.

Mineral fertilizers are additionally added to the substrate in the proportions specified by the manufacturer.

Proper seed treatment

When planning to grow vegetables from their own seeds collected from garden plants, they are carefully inspected, selecting only large specimens. These are always treated with antifungal agents.

To do this, the seeds are immersed in water at a temperature of approximately 50°C for 15 minutes. This heat will destroy any fungal spores that may have come into contact with the seeds. They are then briefly placed in cold water and then placed on an absorbent substrate.

Before sowing, seeds are treated, germinated, and hardened. The first step is to protect the plant from pests and diseases. Gardeners treat the seeds with a solution of potassium permanganate or special targeted treatments. To accelerate growth, they germinate the seeds. To do this, they soak them in water or a growth stimulant. They are then hardened.

Sowing

Growing Chinese cabbage from seedlings allows for a harvest of greens as early as the first half of summer. Sowing the crop:

1. Place three seeds in each pot containing the prepared soil mixture. Spray the soil with water and cover with plastic wrap to retain moisture. Seedlings should appear within four days.
2. After the plant has formed 2-3 true leaves, one of the strongest shoots is left.
3. The soil is regularly moistened and slightly loosened.
4. The plant is replanted no earlier than when it has formed 5-6 leaves.

Care

Napa cabbage seedlings don't require special care. However, they shouldn't be left unattended for long periods. As the soil dries out, moisten it by pouring water right under the roots. After watering, loosen the soil to a shallow depth.

This helps retain moisture in the soil mixture, promote root development, and provide the plant with oxygen. Fifteen days after germination, the soil can be mulched with sawdust, straw, or peat. At this time, the first application of organic fertilizer is also applied.

Features of transplanting into garden beds

When the seedlings have 3-4 true leaves, they can be planted in open ground. A few days before, prepare the beds. Dig them with humus and wood ash from various tree species. The application rate depends on the soil fertility. Generally, 10 kg/m3 of humus is needed.², and ash - 300 g/m3²The area is harrowed and thoroughly watered.

Once the soil has dried out slightly, dig holes according to the planting plan. For salad varieties, leaving 15 cm between plants is sufficient. If growing Chinese cabbage, space adjacent plants at least 30 cm apart. For both varieties, the row spacing should be approximately 0.5 m. Seedlings growing in trays should not be watered for two days before transplanting.

The seedlings are removed from the container by transshipment. The pre-dried root ball can be easily removed from the container without damaging the roots. If the seedlings are growing in peat pots, they are dug into the beds along with the plant. After transplanting, the soil around the plant is compacted and watered.

How to care for a rich harvest

Although the crop itself is not very demanding regarding ambient temperature, fruit formation depends on its stability. For the development of heads of cabbage The thermometer shouldn't drop below 14°C or rise above 23°C. If the temperature isn't within these optimal ranges, the cabbage will simply bloom.

You can artificially lower the level by spraying. However, droplets can cause rot. The optimal solution is to use a fine-mist sprayer to create a "cloud" over the plantings. Generally, the cultivation techniques for this vegetable are standard. They consist of a few maintenance procedures.

Table: Nuances of caring for vegetable plantings

Gardeners' Tips

To get a good harvest of Chinese cabbage, it's essential to strictly adhere to cultivation practices. In backyard vegetable gardening, the key is to ensure a stable temperature of 16-20°C. To prevent flowering, gardeners plant seedlings at a specific time. Cabbage bolts when daylight hours are very long, meaning seedlings should be planted outdoors (in temperate climates, for example) in the second half of April or after July 15th.

Besides long daylight hours and temperature fluctuations, the main problem with Chinese cabbage is pests. The plant's succulent leaves are excellent food for the cruciferous flea beetle. Large colonies can damage the entire crop. Crop rotation is the key to pest control. Poor predecessors for Chinese cabbage include mustard, radish, cabbage, turnips, and rutabaga.

At the first sign of flea beetle activity, treat the plant with protective agents. Those who oppose the use of chemicals can spray the plant with an infusion of tobacco leaves mixed with laundry soap.