When to sow or plant Chinese cabbage seedlings in open ground

Napa cabbage, or Chinese cabbage, is a vegetable crop that differs from regular cabbage in its structure and resembles a leafy lettuce. There are many varieties of this cabbage, including early and mid-season varieties.

Vegetables are sown using seedlings and seeds. For an early harvest, sow in late March; for a fall harvest, sow in summer.

Varieties of Chinese cabbage

Among the cabbage varieties, some of the most popular are:

• Cha-cha;
• "Glass";
• Asten;
• "Champion";
• Beijing Express.

All of them are equally tender and juicy in taste, differing only in the shape of the head. "Cha-cha" is an early hybrid variety. Growing this variety from seedlings allows for an earlier harvest.

The "Lyubasha" variety, with its yellow-white leaves, has a distinctive flavor and wonderful aroma. This mid-early variety is very popular for its juiciness and flavor.

"Beijing Express" is a relatively new variety, classified as mid-early. It is distinguished by its versatility: it produces a good harvest when grown in a garden, and can be harvested equally well in a greenhouse. A distinctive feature is its resistance to adverse weather conditions.

Among the early varieties, the Champion is popular because it produces good fruit and is resistant to adverse weather conditions and diseases typical of cabbage.

Early varieties also include 'Victoria' with juicy leaves, bright taste and aroma.

When to sow for seedlings

Chinese cabbage is a cold-hardy plant: seeds begin to germinate at temperatures as low as 4ºC (39ºF). However, normal development begins at temperatures between 15-20ºC (59-68ºF). It's important to remember that warmer weather triggers the cabbage to begin flowering.

Sow in loose soil at the end of March for an early harvest; if the cabbage is needed for winter consumption, then at the end of June.

However, it's important to keep in mind: this crop doesn't tolerate transplanting well, so experienced gardeners recommend sowing the seeds in separate containers. This way, the seedlings won't be damaged. Plant the seeds in moist soil. During this period, use settled water for watering. Afterward, gently loosen the soil.

After the seedlings develop leaves (2-3 leaves are enough), one seedling should be left in each pot - it should be the strongest one, and the rest are pinched off.

Rules for growing seedlings

Chinese cabbage requires long daylight hours to produce fruit. If a gardener is growing this vegetable to prevent it from bolting, they should:

• strictly adheres to planting deadlines;
• plants in fertile soil;
• regularly fertilizes with fertilizers.

When to plant in the ground

Planting begins when the seedlings have 5-6 leaves. Before planting, the cabbage needs to be hardened off: take the seedlings outside, increasing the amount of time they spend outdoors each day. Gradually, the seedlings will be ready to spend a full day outside, and then they can be planted.

The soil should be light, loose, yet fertile. Loamy soil best meets these requirements. It's best to choose soil that previously supported carrots, onions, cucumbers, and green manure crops.

Summer sowing

If you sow cabbage in the summer, you can reap a good harvest in the fall. The best time to sow is the last days of July. Sow at a depth of 2-3 cm. It's important to maintain the distance between beds: at least 40 cm. After the seedlings emerge, remove the weak shoots from each hole, leaving the strongest one. After three weeks, the plant should be earthed up. Before the leaves close, add nitrogen fertilizer. Water regularly but moderately.

Conclusion

As you can see, growing Chinese cabbage is not difficult. The most important consideration is the purpose for which this vegetable is grown. Spring sowing is suitable for those who want to eat the fresh vegetable immediately. However, if you plan to preserve the cabbage until winter or use it for pickling, summer sowing is preferable.