The ground purple cabbage was planted at the time
Purple cabbage grown in open fields during the summer can be supplied to the market from August to September, helping to diversify vegetable availability and add vibrant color to the seasonal produce. However, summer presents challenging conditions for growing purple cabbage, as it is characterized by high temperatures, heavy rainfall, and an increased risk of weeds and pests. To overcome these challenges, it's essential to select early-maturing, heat-resistant, and disease-resistant varieties. Effective management practices such as flood control, regular weeding, and pest monitoring are crucial to ensure a successful harvest and high economic returns.
For seedling production, choose well-drained plots with good irrigation and drainage systems. Construct simple shelters to protect young plants from excessive rain and sunlight. Fertilize the soil before planting, and start sowing seedlings between mid-May and early June. After germination, thin the seedlings every 15 days, maintaining a spacing of 5 cm x 5 cm to encourage strong growth. Seedlings should have 6 to 8 true leaves after about 30 days, making them ready for transplanting.
When selecting the planting site, choose a well-drained and ventilated area, and apply decomposed organic fertilizer as a base. Ridge or furrow cultivation methods can be used depending on local conditions. Ridge planting facilitates watering, while furrow cultivation helps with drainage and prevents waterlogging. The furrows should be approximately 30–40 cm wide, and the ridges around 100 cm wide.
Planting should take place in mid to late June, with a row spacing of 50 cm and plant spacing of 35–40 cm. Plant two rows in a triangular pattern, aiming for 3,000 to 4,000 plants per acre. It's best to transplant seedlings with soil to minimize shock, and water them immediately after planting. Choose cloudy or evening hours for planting to reduce sun exposure, which helps prevent seedling death and promotes better establishment.
During the growing season, the hot and rainy weather increases evaporation and makes the soil dry quickly. Water frequently to maintain moisture, and perform weeding 2–3 times after transplanting. Avoid deep cultivation to prevent water accumulation that could harm root development. In high-humidity conditions, it's important to apply fertilizers early to promote rapid growth and early head formation, which leads to earlier maturity and higher yields. Apply liquid manure during the rosette stage and early core development period.
Under high temperature and humidity, summer purple cabbage is vulnerable to pests like aphids, cabbage worms, diamondback moths, and bacterial soft rot. Prompt pest control is necessary to avoid damage to both quality and yield. Regular monitoring and timely intervention are key to a successful harvest.
Wuxi Winsun Automation Instrument Co., Ltd , https://www.winsunwx.com