What is Chinese cabbage? Is this vegetable healthy? This article will answer these and other questions. From it you can learn about some of the intricacies of growing this vegetable crop. Good care tips will help you grow Chinese cabbage yourself.

What does this vegetable represent?

Chinese cabbage- this is the oldest Chinese vegetable plant. He is loved in his homeland, but every year his demand increases in our country. Moreover, many amateur gardeners and summer residents successfully grow Chinese cabbage on their land plots. The main advantage of this vegetable is that Chinese cabbage can be harvested in absolutely any climate. That is, growing Chinese cabbage in Siberia is also possible.

Chinese cabbage - head lettuce. That's what some gardeners call it. This vegetable is a representative of the cabbage species, but in terms of nutritional value it is significantly superior to its closest brothers.

Chinese cabbage contains many useful substances, including:

Types of Chinese cabbage

Chinese cabbage is a cold-resistant, moisture-demanding, early-ripening vegetable. It comes in several types:

1. Sheet.
2. Half-headed.
3. Headed.

You should know that Chinese cabbage is divided into two closely related species, these are:

1. Petsai. It is popularly known as Chinese cabbage or salad cabbage.
2. Pak choy or mustard cabbage.

Quite often these two types are combined under one common name– Chinese cabbage. But they differ not only appearance, each subspecies has its own characteristics.

Rules for growing Chinese cabbage

In order to receive good harvest A vegetable crop such as Chinese cabbage, a photo of which is attached in this article, needs well-cultivated soil and sufficient moisture. When digging up a future site in the fall, you can fertilize it with well-rotted soil at the rate of 4 kg per 1 sq. m. m. for Chinese cabbage is strictly prohibited. With the onset of spring, the area dug up in the fall can only be loosened, since this type of cabbage loves compacted soils.

Chinese cabbage can get clubroot. All types of this vegetable are susceptible to this disease. Therefore, the soil for planting the plant should not be acidic.

In addition, it is undesirable to plant Chinese cabbage in places where crops such as:

• Turnip.
• Swede.
• Radish.
• Other types of cabbage.

It is important to know that Chinese cabbage is a short-day plant. That is, at late spring sowing(from April to May) with the onset of hot days, this vegetable may bloom.

This is due to the fact that for the normal development of a head of cabbage, Chinese cabbage needs a certain air temperature - 15-22 degrees Celsius. It is very important to remember about the ripening time of head lettuce - 40-60 days.

Chinese cabbage is an early ripening vegetable. That's why spring planting must be produced in open ground, taking into account the time required for the development and formation of a head of cabbage or rosette. This should be done before hot weather arrives. These above-mentioned nuances are important not only when Chinese cabbage is grown in the Urals, but also for other regions.

If, nevertheless, there was a failure during spring sowing and the plant produced a peduncle, then there is no need to be upset. You can let the Chinese cabbage bloom and seed. On next year the resulting seed material can be used to produce a new crop.

To consume the vegetable in the fall, Chinese cabbage seeds are sown in the second half of June. As practice shows, summer sowing gives higher yields. Seeds are sown in prepared soil according to the same principle as in April-May.

Well, now let’s move on directly to how to properly grow Chinese cabbage and what needs to be done for this. This vegetable is grown directly by sowing seeds in open ground or using pre-grown vegetables. Chinese cabbage seedlings are planted in early April. Seeds are planted to a depth of up to 2 cm, always in separate containers with a diameter of no more than 3 cm. This cabbage is very difficult to transplant. The seedlings will be ready for planting in open ground on the 20th day.

The best distance between plants on a ridge is 40 cm, row spacing is 50 cm. It is not recommended to bury plants.

This cabbage is frost-resistant and can withstand short-term drops in air temperature. But it is still recommended to cover the planted plants. special coating- for example, lutrasil. This will allow the seedlings to more easily adapt to new conditions and protect them from pests.

When sowing Chinese cabbage seeds in open ground, the distance between the rows is also about 50 cm. The seeds can be sown quite densely. When the first shoots appear, it will be necessary to carry out thinning combined with weeding. To begin with, you can leave a distance of 10 cm between the plants. Then, at the next weeding, thin out again, and so on until a distance of 40 cm is maintained between the cabbage. The torn out seedlings can be eaten.

If the plant has taken root well, but its further growth has stopped, you need to pay attention to the presence of pests such as cruciferous flea beetle. This pest can completely destroy seedlings in a very short time.

The cruciferous flea beetle can be repelled using tips for caring for Chinese cabbage, for this you need:

• Dust cabbage leaves with ash after rain or watering. You can also use tobacco dust.
• Use special products - insecticides.

Chinese cabbage is quite demanding in terms of moisture, so it needs to be hydrated periodically. But do not allow the soil to swim.

It is advisable to combine watering with fertilizing, which can be as follows:

• A weak solution of liquid organic matter.
• Fermented grass.
• Infusion of mullein or bird droppings.

As soon as the soil is watered, it needs to be slightly loosened, but there is no need to sprinkle the plant with soil. Hilling has an adverse effect on Chinese cabbage. Taking into account the above rules and some subtleties, you can get excellent harvest Chinese cabbage for both summer and autumn consumption. This type of cabbage is able to retain its beneficial substances after cutting and storing it for long-term storage.

In the video, Chinese cabbage Pak Choi

Traditional varieties from China are actively assimilated in the regions of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and are popular in Kazakhstan and other CIS countries. How to grow Chinese cabbage and get the maximum possible yield? The ancient vegetable crop has gone through more than one stage of selective development and is taking root well in new lands. Tolerates frost well.

It is necessary to familiarize yourself with some of the nuances of plant life. Any variety requires care and special treatment. If potatoes require nitrogen, then what will bok choy or another type of Chinese guest require? How many varieties exist in nature and how to grow the crop in our conditions?

Description

The Asian plant came to us in the second half of the 19th century. During this time, a huge amount of work was carried out selection work. Large quantities withdrawn different varieties Chinese cabbage. Hybrid ones are especially popular, as they take root well in an unusual environment and produce a good harvest.

There are two types, each of which has its own differences:

1. Chinese cabbage bok choy is often confused with another species. Both came to us from the Middle Kingdom. But despite common features, you need to care for them differently.
2. Chinese cabbage pak choi. This is the second variety with the classic name. It was from him that the Beijinger was renamed, which from a biological point of view is completely incorrect. It turns out that pak choi and Chinese cabbage are two different varieties.

Based on early maturity, crops can be divided into three groups:

1. Early. Ripening time is 40 – 55 days.
2. Average. It will take 55-60 days until full fruits are received.
3. Late. The harvest will have to wait about 60 - 80 days.

Planning

I wonder how to grow Chinese cabbage if you plant three varieties at once in one area? Once the early harvest is harvested, it can be processed. After all the work has been completed, the next wave arrives. This saves time during busy periods.

The following information will help you correctly distribute the yield and prevent fruit spoilage.

Early

It is better to divide the varieties according to the planting area. Cultures differ slightly in their conditions of detention. For example, Chinese swallow cabbage - growing and caring for it will take only 15 days after germination. This is a real record holder for ripening speed. The first green is the most valuable. The body needs to replenish its reserves of vitamins and microelements after a long winter.

Species may conflict with each other. It is necessary to separate crops when planting together. For example, pak choi cabbage is grown with its relatives at a distance from each other. But harvesting with this method of farming is even more convenient.

The vacated areas can be used for re-seeding, having previously prepared the land. This method allows you to harvest several harvests per year.

Mid-season varieties

A prominent representative is glass cabbage. It got its name because of its goblet shape. The heads of cabbage are dense, without voids. Weight up to two kilograms.

Mid-ripening varieties contain more useful elements than early ones. More time is spent on growing Chinese cabbage, but this is justified by the weight and size of the fruit. The vegetable has a longer shelf life than early ripening vegetables. The longer it stays in the garden, there is every chance it will survive until late autumn.

Late varieties

Autumn frosts are not scary. Cabbage of these varieties grows well after a short drop in temperature. Resistant to pests. Stores well (up to 9 months). These varieties are usually used for pickling and canning. For better storage use hybrids.

Each gardener decides individually when to plant seeds. Late varieties planted almost simultaneously with the early ones. There are several stages that go through before harvesting:

1. Soil preparation.
2. Seed preparation.
3. Germination.
4. Landing in the ground.
5. Cultivation care.

As you can see, before planting cabbage in the country, you must first prepare the seed material.

Seed preparation

The procedure is simple and does not take much time. Pre-treatment seeds allows you to determine in advance the germination of the crop and affects the speed of appearance of the first shoots:

1. Place the seeds in a gauze bag. Place for 15 minutes in water preheated to a temperature of +50 degrees.
2. Then we cool them in cold water within one minute.
3. After this, we immerse the seeds in a special garden solution with microelements (sold in gardening stores) for 12 hours.
4. Can be stored for a day in the refrigerator at temperatures down to -10 degrees.

The prepared seed is ready for planting.

How to plant

Depending on the region, conditions of detention may vary significantly. Planting and caring for plants have their own characteristics.

The culture loves light and is planted in open, unshaded places. Receives both eastern and western sun equally well. Comfortable temperature depends on the variety, usually up to +25 degrees.

There are two planting methods:

1. The seedless method. We use pre-prepared seeds and plant cabbage in open ground. After planting, sprinkling irrigation is required. It is advisable to keep the soil slightly moist until the first shoots appear. Planting is carried out in an open, sunny place. It is necessary that the earth warms up well.
2. With the help of seedlings. Growing seedlings from seeds is a long and fruitful process. Pre-grown seedlings reduce the risk of yield loss and time due to seed quality; fruits can be harvested earlier. Chinese cabbage is sensitive to transplantation - here special attention You need to pay attention to preparing the soil, which will facilitate the adaptation period.

Advice: varieties have the greatest survival rate hybrid varieties . When planting, it is advisable to place two or three seeds in one cup or open ground. In the future, you can always make a pick.

This simple method will increase the yield in your garden. Picking is useful for identifying weak seeds. If the sprouts develop poorly, this is noticeable in the initial stages of plant development.

Soil preparation

A guest from the Middle Kingdom does not require special staff soil for normal development, but it is best to prepare seat according to all the rules of agricultural technology. Some early ripening domestic varieties, for example, Alyonushka, allow you to harvest two harvests per season. In this case, the soil preparation procedure must be repeated before each planting.

There are two stages here:

1. We prepare the soil for seedlings and stock up on seed material. The culture loves loose soil. It is best to choose a neutral pH; the use of slightly acidic compounds is allowed. In order for the crop to grow and develop well, the ground is dug up with 1/5 of the sand. The soil becomes loose and allows air and moisture to pass through well. It is best to use peat tablets.
2. On summer cottage We plan the area for sowing with pre-grown seedlings or in another way. Acidic soils lime. Then apply combined fertilizers according to the instructions. Add sand and dig.

Organic fertilizers are extremely important for the soil. Usually they are introduced late autumn, after harvesting, they prepare the land for the next season. The humus is distributed over the site and dug up along with the soil. It is important to remember that Asian crops do not tolerate manure well. Chemical processes generate heat, which can damage the root system.

Care

Celery does not require special care. Growing and caring for Chinese cabbage comes down to following traditional methods agriculture:

1. Weeding.
2. Loosening the soil.
3. Watering.
4. Drying the soil.

The culture loves watering, which should be plentiful: the soil can remain wet for more than a day. Usually they water at the root, but sometimes you can pamper the cabbage with sprinkling. The main thing is not to spoil the soil after watering; the soil must dry out. Otherwise, soil bacteria will develop, which can lead to infection.

Tolerates frosts well. Some varieties may be in open beds at temperatures down to -8 degrees. After the first frost, warmth usually comes. During this period, you can safely leave the crop to ripen.

It should be remembered that culture has large leaves. Despite the fact that the side of the chok has an arrow-shaped shape, this does not protect it from direct sunlight. If you apply sprinkling in the morning, the leaves can be burned at noon. This is explained by the fact that droplets of water remain on the leaves, which, when exposed to intense solar radiation, act as a magnifying lens, which can lead to burning of the leaves.

Asian crops need sunlight during all periods of their development, from growing seedlings in an apartment to the full ripening of fruits in the garden. Some gardeners use special lighting to enhance growth. Usually these are combined LED or sodium lamps.

The intensity of photosynthesis and photomorphogenesis depends on lighting. According to the Russian Academy science research, plants actively consume the following spectra:

• red;
• blue;
• green.

The monochrome radiation of LEDs is ideally suited for these purposes.

You can experiment with early ripening crops. For example, the domestic variety Alyonushka is well suited for these purposes. LED lamps positioned so that the leaves are completely bathed in light. Used in daytime days as an addition to the main lighting.

Achieving full maturity occurs when 9-10 full leaves are formed. The fruit is cut off without stopping further foliage formation. In this case, the harvest can be obtained several times from one shoot. The plant very quickly forms new fruits and develops intensively. Competent planning of crops, proper care and careful attention will allow you to reap an excellent harvest.

Vegetables are abundant on the tables of Asian countries. For example, Chinese cabbage. Salads are prepared from it and used as a side dish. Previously, this vegetable was exclusively imported to Europe. Today, growing and caring for Chinese cabbage is available in many regions of Russia.
Today, gardeners are interested in growing not only well-known and widespread vegetable crops. Through the efforts of breeders, varieties have been developed that are adapted to conditions different from the “parental” ones. What is required to grow and care for Chinese cabbage, why this vegetable is so popular not only in its homeland.

What is Chinese cabbage

Chinese cabbage refers to bok choy and Chinese cabbage plants. They both found widespread V Chinese cuisine. The vegetable is a variety of turnip and belongs to the same genus as cauliflower, broccoli.

Fact. For quite a long period, bok choy was considered isolated, an independent species Chinese cabbage. Today, both varieties are widely represented on supermarket shelves not only in Asia, but also in Europe and North America.

Outside of Asia, Chinese cabbage has become widespread. That is why, when searching for information about Chinese cabbage, a large percentage of sources describe Chinese cabbage.

Chinese cabbage leaves are pale green in color, the stems are white, rolled into an elongated, loose head. Traditionally used for fermentation.

Bok choy cabbage, or pak choy as it is also called, does not form a head. The leaves are dark green, the stems are fleshy, gathered around a small bud.

Features of agricultural technology

It was experimentally found that Chinese cabbage is difficult to tolerate such a procedure as transplantation, which is often used for other vegetable crops. That is why it is preferable to grow this plant from seedlings or sow it in the ground, always thinning out weaker specimens.

Important. Despite the fact that Chinese cabbage and pak choi are species relatives, it is not recommended to plant them close to each other.

Features of the process of growing Chinese cabbage

Growing pak choi cabbage has a number of features. They can be formulated as follows:

1. Chinese cabbage is a fast-ripening crop. Early varieties reach the maturity stage in an average of 40-55 days, late - 60-80, medium - 55-60. Such indicators allow you to get up to 3 harvests in one season.
2. If the appropriate conditions are created, the plant can be grown throughout the year.
3. Temperatures below 13°C and extended daylight hours (artificially or naturally) can cause bolting and flowering.
4. The optimal temperature for germination is from 15 to 22°C.

It is possible to avoid flowering and bolting if you follow the following rules:

• crops should not be too thick;
• give preference to varieties that are resistant to flowering;
• artificially shorten daylight hours.

The listed features of growing Chinese cabbage should be taken into account before the actual cultivation of the crop begins.

One of the methods of growing Chinese cabbage is seedlings. It is preferable given the instability of the root system to transplantation. That is why the seeds are sown in individual peat pots, in which the seedlings germinate later and are transplanted into a greenhouse or open ground.

Growing Chinese pak choi cabbage using the seedling method has one important advantage - reducing the ripening time. After planting the seedlings in the beds, the first harvest can be harvested after 20-35 days.

Optimal timing for sowing Chinese cabbage for seedlings

Chinese cabbage seeds germinate at a temperature of 4°C. However, for normal growth and full development, the culture requires other temperature indicators - from 15 to 22°C.

Advice. Exceeding the optimal temperature conditions leads to the fact that the plant begins to bloom. This is especially often observed with another factor - long daylight hours.

You should start planting seeds for seedlings about a month before you start planting in the ground. The exact timing depends on what crop is planned to be harvested. For example, if we talk about early, then the landing is carried out at last days Martha, deadline– beginning of April. To obtain a late harvest suitable for winter consumption, the procedure is carried out in the last days of June.

How to grow Chinese cabbage seedlings

For growing Chinese cabbage from seeds, loose soil is preferable. For example, it could be a mixture of two parts coconut substrate and one part humus. The seeds are not pre-soaked. The depth to which the seed is planted should not exceed 1.5 cm. Peat pots, which are best suited for germinating Chinese cabbage seeds, should be kept in a warm, unlit room until the first shoots appear.

The containers are brought to the light a few days after the first shoots appear. Optimal temperature regime– from 7 to 8°C. As the substrate dries, it is watered with settled water at room temperature and carefully loosened.

After 2 to 3 true leaves appear on the seedlings, a false pick is carried out. This means that weak seedlings are not pulled out, but pinched off.

Is picking Chinese cabbage carried out?

Such a procedure as picking with regard to Chinese cabbage seedlings is not applicable. Root system sensitive to damage that is inevitable when transplanting seedlings from a common container into individual pots.

Planting a plant in open ground

The seedlings obtained as a result of seed germination can be planted both in a greenhouse and in open ground. Growing Chinese cabbage in open ground begins immediately after the seedlings reach maturity in three days.

Advice. 10 days before planting, seedlings undergo hardening. To do this, the seedlings are taken out of the room for a while. familiar conditions. Every day, the time spent on the street increases and as soon as the period reaches a day, disembarkation is carried out.

Soil needed for Chinese cabbage

Chinese cabbage is a light-loving crop. Therefore, areas that are sufficiently illuminated are suitable for growing it. The soil should be neutral, light, and fairly loose. The soil should be moderately moist and have good drainage so that water does not stagnate.

Precursors for Chinese cabbage can be carrots, potatoes, any grains, cucumbers, and garlic.

Planting seedlings in areas that were previously planted with any cruciferous plants risks infection common pests and diseases.

How to plant Chinese cabbage correctly

The success of growing Chinese cabbage depends on many factors. One of them is proper soil preparation.

In some cases, liming of the soil may be required. This should be done in the fall before the final digging. With the onset of spring, the selected area is dug up and a bucket of humus (compost) is added to each square meter. Then holes are made at a distance of 10-15 cm. The distance between rows should not exceed 50 cm.

The bottom of each hole is fertilized with superphosphate, wood ash and urea, thoroughly mixed with soil and a small amount of water. The peat pot is placed in the center of the hole and carefully added dropwise.

How to plant a plant in the garden

Planting and caring for Chinese cabbage is not very difficult, provided that certain rules are followed. One of them concerns the fact that some time after planting, seedlings must be covered with non-woven material.

This is done to solve the following problems:

• protection of young plants from temperature changes;
• sheltering seedlings from direct sunlight at the time of rooting;
• protection of the root system from possible rotting due to abundant moisture during heavy rainfall;
• protection against cruciferous flea beetle;
• accelerating the process of head formation.

After two weeks from the moment of planting in open ground, the area must be mulched with peat or straw. Loosening the soil around the emerging heads of cabbage is done with great care.

Watering

Chinese cabbage requires abundant and regular watering. This is done at least once a week. Water should be poured directly under the root, avoiding getting on the leaves. The procedure is carried out either early in the morning or immediately after the sun sets. Mulching allows you to avoid accelerated evaporation of moisture.

Top dressing

Chinese cabbage is fed for the first time two weeks after planting in the ground. The basis of feeding should be organic fertilizers. One plant will require no more than a liter of ready-made solution.
Plants that were planted in the spring should be fertilized at least three times throughout the growing season. Summer plantings are fertilized twice.

Variety of types of Chinese cabbage

The science of selection does not stand still. Today, thanks to the efforts of specialists, many vegetable crops can be grown not only in Asia, for example, but also in the climate of most regions of Russia. Today there are many types of Chinese cabbage. The following are the most common varieties in our country.

Sheet

This variety is nothing more than Chinese cabbage itself or pak choi. The plant is distinguished by succulent petioles, which are eaten. The foliage has an oval shape, it is pressed tightly to the middle. Bok choy stores well, keeping presentation over a long period of time.

Today the market offers varieties adapted to Russian conditions. However, those species that grow in China easily tolerate the climatic conditions of most latitudes of Russia.

The domestic variety of Chinese cabbage, which has become widespread, is “Alyonushka”. It is valued for its early ripening - only 45 days pass from the moment the first shoots appear to the harvest. And also for high content Lysine is an amino acid that is extremely important for the body and is very rarely found in vegetables.

Plants of this variety form a rosette of leaves, the diameter of which reaches 20-30 cm. All parts of the plant are eaten in any form - fried, raw, stewed, pickled. The leaves are small and have a round-oval shape.

The petioles are quite fleshy. One plant can reach a weight of 1.8 kg. From one square meter It is possible to collect about 9 kg of plantings. The taste of the “Alyonushka” cabbage, although it has a spicy pungency, is quite pleasant.

Another type of Chinese cabbage that is popular is Swallow. Its value lies in the fact that the first harvest is harvested two weeks after the appearance of the first shoots.

Plants of this variety weigh up to 3 kg. The petioles are quite fleshy and juicy. All parts contain large amounts of ascorbic acid.

Half-headed and cabbage variety

Introduced by the well-known Chinese cabbage. Due to the fact that the crop does not tolerate temperature changes quite well, it is grown mainly in greenhouse conditions.

Today, breeders offer early ripening varieties that are suitable for growing in open ground. For example, Khibinskaya and Optiko.

Today in Russia the most common variety of Chinese cabbage is “Bokal”. This is a representative of the cabbage species. Dense, completely closed heads of cabbage are a guarantee that fungal spores and larvae will not be able to penetrate inside. The taste qualities allow the plant to be used as a salad additive.

Possible diseases and pests of Chinese cabbage

Chinese cabbage is a frost-resistant crop. However, this quality applies exclusively to adult plants. The seedlings are extremely poorly tolerated low temperatures, their differences.

Regarding pests that can cause damage to Chinese cabbage seedlings. Experts name among them - all lovers of cruciferous vegetables, for example, cruciferous flea beetles. To reduce the damage they cause, it is recommended to water the plant abundantly and often. Chemicals should be connected when the number of pests increases sharply.

Naked slugs and cabbage whites are the main enemies of Chinese cabbage. If measures are not taken in a timely manner, pests can completely destroy the plant seedlings.

Advantages and disadvantages

Chinese cabbage has many benefits. Namely:

• pronounced, unparalleled taste;
• the ability to get a harvest in a short time;
• unpretentiousness - the culture easily adapts to any climatic conditions;
• resistance to known diseases and pests;
• high volume of harvest obtained;
• long shelf life.

The advantages of Chinese cabbage include its rich composition. The leaves contain a large amount of substances necessary for the human body.

Despite such an extensive list of benefits, Chinese cabbage has a small drawback - if you miss the harvest time, the leaves become rough.

Harvest

Chinese pak choi cabbage is ready for harvesting when the plant has formed at least 9-10 full leaves. A plant that has formed fleshy petioles on a dense rosette is also considered mature.

Fact. One plant produces several harvests. This is possible due to the rapid formation of new leaf shoots.
Chinese cabbage tolerates frost well when the temperature drops to -10°C, which allows the plant to be preserved for a long time.

Provided there are no so-called “windows” when the temperature varies between minus and plus, the Chinese one can be left in the garden until December.

Fact. If you strictly follow the rules for growing Chinese cabbage, the yield can reach 15 kg per 1 square of sowing.

Once the plant reaches maturity, experienced gardeners It is recommended to dig it up by the roots. Then, to preserve its taste, it should be buried in damp sand and placed in a basement with good ventilation. The moisture in the sand will not allow the cabbage to wither.

Chinese cabbage belongs to the category and is characterized by the formation of an erect rosette of leaves. The birthplace of this vegetable crop is China. IN recent years Growing Chinese cabbage is gaining popularity and recognition among gardeners in our country.

Varieties of Chinese cabbage are also represented by the Beijing version of pe-tsai, which has not only a leaf form, but also a head. An annual and fairly cold-resistant plant, it is characterized by early ripening and shows excellent results when grown in all regions of our country.

Plant characteristics

Chinese cabbage is relatively unpretentious to cultivation conditions, however, a consistently high yield is usually obtained when cultivating this useful plant in greenhouse protected soil conditions. To grow a high-quality crop, you should adhere to standard agrotechnical practices and take into account biological features this plant.

Cabbage from the Middle Kingdom is quite demanding in terms of humidity. The leaves of such a plant are collected in a fairly dense rosette, the diameter of which can reach fifty centimeters. This parameter depends not only on the variety of Chinese cabbage, but also on the growing conditions.

The main advantage of Chinese cabbage is the ability to grow in all weather conditions, as well as in shaded areas. Maximum yield is recorded in warm climates and with short days. Chinese cabbage is very responsive to high-quality soil composition, and an abundant harvest of large leaf rosettes is formed when grown on well-cultivated, moist and fertile soil.

Useful properties

Central Asian cuisine widely uses the plant in the preparation of a significant number of different dishes, which is due not only to the excellent taste of Chinese cabbage, but also to the quality indicators of this green crop. The leaves of the plant contain about seventy percent of vitamin C. In addition, the plant is rich in vitamins A and B, as well as iron and a large number of trace elements.

Chinese cabbage is especially revered for the following beneficial properties:

• lowering blood sugar levels, which makes it a very valuable food product for people with diabetes;
• strengthening the cardiovascular system and improving calcium metabolism;
• cabbage juice is effective means to reduce pain in diseases of the digestive tract;
• Cabbage has proven itself as an excellent preventive remedy for colitis, gastritis and duodenitis.

According to some reports, regular use of this plant can significantly reduce the risk of cancer.

Landing rules

It is possible to grow a healthy and well-bearing plant if you follow cultivation technology. Chinese cabbage can be grown not only through seedlings, but also in a seedless way.

When growing a plant without seedlings, the following rules must be observed:

• sowing of seed material on greenhouse beds is carried out from the end of April at intervals of two weeks;
• spring sowing should be done with leafy varieties, and in summer sowing preference should be given to head-forming varieties;
• the standard step between plants should not be less than fifteen centimeters, and the depth is about two centimeters;
• It is allowed to use a strip-line sowing method with subsequent thinning of plants or a group sowing method, in which several seeds are planted in one hole and then the weakest shoots are removed.

To grow Chinese cabbage in seedlings, you should use the following technology:

• the plant is very difficult to transplant, so it is advisable to grow seedlings in separate tablets or peat pots;
• uniform sowing is achieved by mixing the seed with sand;
• the sowing depth should be about one centimeter;
• planting seedlings on greenhouse beds should be done extremely carefully, when five true leaves appear on the plants;
• for plants leaf type the planting pattern for seedlings is 10×10 centimeters;
• for cabbage-type plants, the planting pattern for seedlings is 20×20 centimeters.

Useful properties of Chinese cabbage (video)

Features of care and feeding

Leaf and head types of Chinese cabbage are cold-resistant crops, as well as light- and moisture-loving. Adult plants tolerate cold temperatures down to minus six degrees, but when temperatures rise above twenty-five degrees Celsius, Chinese cabbage can get leaf burns.

Caring for this type of cabbage is not difficult and consists of regular and abundant watering, shallow and careful loosening of the soil, and timely control of weeds and pests. Good result provides high-quality mulching of greenhouse soil. Chinese cabbage is very responsive to sprinkling. When well prepared in the fall, fertile soil During the entire growing season, only two fertilizings with organic fertilizers are required.

Diseases and pests

Weakened plants, which are cared for with gross violations, are most often attacked by diseases and pests. Most often, Chinese cabbage is affected by the following pests.

Garden cruciferous flea beetles

The pest damages the leaf blades. If there are a significant number of pests, the plant may die. The small pest overwinters in plant debris left in the greenhouse.

The fight against fleas consists of sprinkling cabbage leaves tobacco dust or wood ash, as well as timely destruction of garden plant debris. An effective measure is the use of smoke or pollination of plants with sodium silicon fluoride, as well as the placement of special traps in the greenhouse - flea traps.

Cabbage whites

The pest butterfly begins its flight in midsummer. Particularly harmful are cutworms and white moths at the caterpillar stage. A massive infestation of the pest in a greenhouse threatens not only crop loss, but also the death of plants.

The fight against butterflies and caterpillars consists of pollinating plants with a product such as sodium silicon fluoride and manual collection pests from cabbage leaves. Effective drugs are "Lepidots" And "Xibatsilin".

Cabbage fly

An effective method of plant protection is high-quality moistening of the soil around the plants, as well as pollination of the soil with naphthalene or tobacco dust mixed with sand.

The most dangerous diseases of Chinese cabbage include the following types:

• white and gray rot cabbage;
• a kilo of cabbage;
• false powdery mildew;
• cabbage;
• cabbage mosaic.

To prevent the development of these formidable diseases, you should follow the rules of crop rotation, carry out proper preparation greenhouse structure for the winter period, promptly weed the beds with cabbage and immediately remove all plant debris.

Plant health is of no small importance. Strong Chinese cabbage is rarely affected by diseases, so it is advisable to use only zoned and disease-resistant varieties for sowing, and the seed material should be subjected to high-quality pre-sowing treatment.

Chinese cabbage can be eaten raw and for cooking at the age of one and a half months. At this stage, grown in accordance with cultivation technology, the greenhouse plant has several succulent and large leaves.

How to grow Chinese cabbage (video)

The main process of harvesting Chinese cabbage occurs when the heads close. Despite the fact that the plant belongs to the category of very cold-resistant, it is advisable to harvest the entire crop before the onset of stable frosts. Otherwise, the heads of cabbage will be poorly stored and will significantly reduce their taste. An excellent storage method is to dig up the plant with its root system and then bury it in moistened sand. Containers with sand should be stored in a cool room with good ventilation.

For the first time, Chinese cabbage began to be grown in China, from where it came to the Korean Peninsula, Japan, Indochina, and then spread to other regions. In Russia, this culture is not yet so popular, but it has already fallen in love with many who acquired it for the first time. The plant's white, fleshy petioles and green foliage are often used to prepare various dishes or eaten raw as a snack.

Chinese cabbage has undergone a long selective development and today has the ability to take root in any country. Plant culture does not require complex care, but to obtain a plentiful and high-quality harvest, you need to know the rules of its cultivation.

Description and characteristics

Asian cabbage appeared in Russia only in the 19th century. Over many centuries, the plant has gone through many stages of selection, as a result of which several varieties of this type of crop were formed. Hybrid varieties have gained great popularity, as they are able to take root even in the harsh conditions of temperate latitudes.

Cabbage belongs to herbaceous plants the Cruciferous family, which also includes broccoli, white and cauliflower, turnips, radishes, daikon, etc. Chinese culture is a biennial plant that is cultivated as an annual. Cabbage leaves are presented as tender and juicy plates with a triangular or flat central vein. They are characterized by wavy or jagged edges and pimply inside. The leaves form loose heads or rosettes, ranging in color from light yellow to rich green.

The leaf blades of the plant are added to salads, soups, side dishes, and marinades. East Asia known for her traditional dish kimchi, which contains pickled Chinese cabbage.

Today there are two main types of Asian cabbage:

• Chinese cabbage. This type is very popular outside of Asia. In our country it is often sold under the name “Chinese salad”. White stems with wide pale green leaves curl into loose, elongated heads of cabbage. Chinese cabbage is used for pickling and preparing salads.
• bok choy. This species is smaller in size than its Beijing counterpart. Smooth, dark green leaf blades do not form a head, but are located on thick stems around a central point. It is this variety that is most often grown by Asians. Recently, bok choy has been actively grown and sold in the United States and some European countries.

Despite external differences, both types of plant crops contain large amounts of vitamins and other useful substances, which makes them suitable products for a healthy diet.

Landing Features

In our latitudes, both varieties of Chinese cabbage are cultivated. Growing and caring for them are practically the same, but planting different varieties, differing in ripening time, should be kept away from each other so that they do not conflict.

Cabbage prefers open, unshaded areas. It will develop well on the east or west side. Although the plant has a high degree of frost resistance, germination of seeds or seedlings occurs at a temperature not lower than +16 degrees. The soil for cabbage should be light, loose, neutral, but fertile. The culture grows well in drained and moderately moist soil, so a loamy substrate will be ideal for it. Acidic soils should be limed in the fall. In the spring, the site is dug up and a mixture of humus and compost is added to the soil.

The crop is grown without seedlings and using seedlings.

Growing from seeds

Before planting, seed material needs preliminary preparation, after which the seeds have a greater chance of germinating as quickly as possible:

Treated seeds are planted in prepared soil, well heated by the sun. The soil is thoroughly watered and the required level of humidity and heat is subsequently monitored.

Typically, planting is done in April, when the temperature is about +14-20 degrees. At higher rates, cabbage may produce flower stalks. If the growing conditions are favorable, then the first harvest after emergence can be expected within a month.

Seedling method

Longer, but a fruitful way is to grow cabbage for seedlings.

The seeds are prepared according to the same procedure as described above. If you grow seedlings in advance, you will reduce the risk of losing the planned harvest. The first fruits appear earlier than when planting seeds immediately in open ground. It is necessary to sow material for seedlings a month before planting on the site. The best time planting for the summer harvest will be late March - early April. If you plan to stock up on vegetables for winter period, then the seedlings are planted in late June - early July.

Depending on the variety, seedlings should be located at a distance of 20-40 cm from each other; There should be 0.5 m of free space between the rows.

Caring for cabbage in open ground

To get a high-quality harvest within the planned time frame, you must adhere to certain rules in caring for the crop you grow.

After planting the seedlings Plants in the ground should be covered with cloth for the first time. The material will protect young bushes from spring frosts, direct rays of the hot sun, possible rain and pests. Such shelter promotes better rooting and formation of cabbage.

10-15 days after planting, the soil around the bushes is mulched with straw or peat. From time to time you should loosen and weed the earth, removing weeds and excess grass.

Like any other plant, Chinese cabbage needs watering. Once every 7 days, each bush should be watered generously at the root with warm, settled water. It is necessary to ensure that moisture does not get on the foliage. Asian crops should be watered in the morning or evening to prevent the leaves from getting sunburned.

The first fertilizing is applied 15 days after planting the seedlings in the soil. To do this, use organic fertilizers, of which mullein infusion or chicken droppings are suitable. But you should be careful with organic matter, since a high nitrogen content in the soil can lead to plant diseases. In the spring, fertilizing is applied 3 times, in the summer - 2 times. Foliar feeding in the form of a solution has a positive effect on the formation of heads of cabbage. boric acid. Treating leaves with this substance should be done in the evenings.

Collection and storage

For winter storage Chinese cabbage is grown from June and harvested in October. The heads of cabbage are wrapped in film and placed in wooden boxes. Containers with vegetables are stored in a basement or other dry room at a temperature of +1-3 degrees. Twice a month it is necessary to inspect the heads of cabbage heads for deformations. The spoiled parts are removed and the vegetables are wrapped in new material.

The harvested crop can be stored in glassed balcony. If the room temperature drops below 0 degrees, then the boxes will need to be covered with a blanket or other warm material. Healthy and dense specimens can be placed in the refrigerator. Shredded cabbage can be fermented or stored in the freezer.

Diseases and pests

Caring for Chinese cabbage also involves regularly inspecting its leaves. The following insects can occupy the plant:

• Harmful centipedes,
• Cabbage flies,
• bedbugs,
• Cruciferous flea beetles,
• Medvedki,
• Fires,
• wireworms,
• Turnip whites,
• Secretive proboscis,
• Slugs,
• Dark nutcrackers,
• flower beetles,
• Petiole mosquitoes.

Unfavorable conditions can provoke the appearance of diseases in cabbage:

In the first stages of fungal diseases, the affected parts are removed, and the remaining leaves are treated with fungicides. For preventive purposes, seeds and seedlings should be treated with the necessary preparations in order to increase the plant’s immunity to various diseases and pests. Do not forget about the conditions of maintenance and care of the culture.

Caring for Asian crops does not require much effort and time, but only if you follow the rules of planting and growing, you can achieve a high-quality and tasty harvest of juicy vegetables.