I grow Beijing cabbage through seedlings - I tell in detail

Beijing cabbage 50 years ago was distributed only in Asian countries. Now many hybrids have been bred that allow growing this crop in more severe conditions. Beijing is actively cultivated not only on an industrial scale, but also in small quantities in summer cottages. The culture is not very whimsical, but if you are a beginner, then you need to know some of the nuances of planting and growing.

Chinese cabbage. The illustration for the article is used under the standard license ©ofazende.com

Seed preparation

Seeds from the store do not require pre-treatment. They can be planted right away. But if you are not sure about the quality of the seed, it should be checked for germination.

To do this, put the seeds between wet layers of gauze and place everything in a warm place. If they are of high quality, after 3-4 days they will begin to hatch and sprout. As soon as this happens, proceed to planting in pre-prepared containers.

In order to protect the future harvest as much as possible, I additionally carry out a disinfecting treatment of the material from pathogens of fungal and bacterial diseases. Remember that 80% of diseases are transmitted through seeds (and plant debris) and only 20% through soil.

For the disinfection of seeds, solutions of potassium permanganate, hydrogen peroxide, boric acid or copper sulphate have long been used. I use the most traditional disinfection method - manganese treatment. I place the seeds in a cloth bag and soak for half an hour in a bright pink solution of potassium permanganate.

Sowing for seedlings

If you have chosen a seedling method of growing Peking, you should consider that the plant does not tolerate transplanting well. Therefore, for sowing seedlings, it is better to choose cassettes or peat pots. Thanks to such containers, Beijing cabbage can be planted in a permanent place without damaging the root system. The plant is planted with a pot.

I plant seeds like this:

1. I fill the selected container with nutrient soil. It can be purchased at gardening stores.
2. In the center I make a recess in which I place 2-3 seeds.
3. I sprinkle them with a layer of earth of 5-10 mm.
4. I move the pots to a dark and warm place. If the seeds are of high quality, then already on the 3-4th day it will be possible to see the first shoots.
5. After their appearance, I transfer the pots to a bright but cool place. The temperature in the room should be at the level of +10 degrees.
6. Watering is carried out only with settled water at room temperature, when the top layer of the substrate dries slightly. After watering, it is imperative to loosen the earth, but this should be done very carefully.
7. After the formation of true leaves, I leave only the strongest plant. I pluck the rest.
8. When the night temperature is above +10 degrees outside, the cabbage can be transplanted to a permanent place.

Further care consists in regular watering, weeding and loosening. You can also feed the plants with nitrogen-containing fertilizers a week after transplantation.

Harvest and storage

There are two methods of harvesting, which depend on the type of plant:

1. If you planted a lettuce variety, then use a well-sharpened knife for harvesting. It is necessary to carefully trim the leaf plates on each bush. The procedure is performed when the length of the sheet is at least 10 cm.
2. If you planted a head hybrid, you should wait for the leaves to close at the top. After that, the heads are cut off.

At home, Beijing can be stored for up to 4 months. To do this, I remove all damaged leaves from the heads, then wrap the heads in cling film and place them in wooden boxes. I check every 2 weeks. Those that have begun to deteriorate, I remove. The rest I wrap again in film.

Some summer residents keep Beijing in city apartments. To do this, they use a glazed balcony or refrigerator. The head of cabbage must first be wrapped in cling film. So cabbage can be stored up to 1 month.

Conclusion

If you follow the recommendations exactly, you can easily grow a good crop of Beijing cabbage. This is within the power of even beginner gardeners. Perhaps you have something to add to the article or you want to tell your growing secrets. Share it in the comments.

Read also: Three ways to clean the garden of infection and restore its fertility

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#Chinese cabbage#seedling cultivation#seed preparation