Good afternoon, my reader. It is not for nothing that Peking cabbage (petsai) has gained popularity among summer residents. Its tender, juicy leaves are an ideal ingredient for making vitamin salads. However, the opinion of some gardeners that this crop is best planted in the spring is wrong. Sowing a plant in summer has undeniable advantages that increase yields and shelf life.
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Summer landing benefits
Peking cabbage planted in spring cannot be preserved even until the New Year. Therefore, sowing a crop in July-August will extend its shelf life. Summer residents who are wary of shooting should take into account that in the second half of summer daylight hours becomes shorter, and for the formation of peduncles, bright lighting is necessary for at least 12 hours in day.
Therefore, it makes sense to sow this crop twice a season. The first crop can be eaten fresh during the summer. And the second - to leave for storage, which can last at least until the middle of winter.
Seedling method of growing
This method of cultivating Chinese cabbage has an undeniable advantage. The crop ripens together in an extremely short time (3-4 weeks from the date of planting of seedlings). The salad culture is grown in the same way as other varieties of cabbage.
For sowing, use shallow containers or separate peat pots (plastic cups). Each container is filled with fertile soil and 2-3 seeds are placed in it. For seedlings, use a universal soil mixture, which can be purchased at a flower shop.
If necessary, you can prepare the seedling soil yourself. To do this, sod land, humus and sand are mixed in equal proportions. In this case, for each liter of the mixture add 1 tbsp. l. wood ash.
Planting containers are left warm (20-23 ° C) until shoots appear. As soon as the seedlings hatch, the containers are taken out to a cooler room (15-16 ° C). With a shortage of natural light, the seedlings are supplemented with special lamps for at least 12 hours a day.
In 3-4 weeks after sowing, young plants will be ready for planting in open ground (greenhouse). Plants are placed in the beds, maintaining an interval between bushes of 30 cm, and in the row spacing - at least 50 cm.
The salad culture prefers a fertile, humus-rich soil, good lighting and systematic watering.
Seedless growing method
Summer sowing of Peking cabbage is good because it is carried out directly into the open ground. The site is prepared in the usual way. Grooves 1-2 cm deep are made in the soil and moistened. The seeds are distributed, leaving at least 30 cm between the future bushes.
If desired, the plant can be sown in separate holes, staggered. Good yields are obtained by growing crops on the ridges. In this case, the seeds are buried 1-1.5 cm into the soil.
Outdoor care
Chinese cabbage loves good lighting, warmth, and moderate moisture. Under normal conditions, the plant is watered with water heated in the sun at the rate of 10 liters per 3-4 bush (1 sq. m). And in the summer heat, in addition to watering at the root, it is advisable to use sprinkling in the morning.
Important! Improper watering of Peking cabbage leads to reduced yields or cracking of cabbages.
The frequency of watering can be reduced by mulching the soil. In addition, do not forget about the systematic loosening of the soil and the removal of weeds from the beds. In addition, hilling of bushes favorably affects the formation of heads of cabbage.
Attention! A salad culture easily accumulates chemical components during the growing season. Therefore, it is preferable to use natural (folk) remedies for feeding and protecting against diseases, pests.
Peking cabbage is an ideal product for a healthy and dietary diet. Summer sowing of culture will allow you to indulge in the pleasure of enjoying light and healthy salads even in winter.
Do you know how to grow a great Peking cabbage crop?
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