Beijing cabbage is a tasty and healthy vegetable that has eclipsed many representatives of the cabbage family. Its juicy leaves are ideal for vegetable salads, and heads of cabbage can be stored for several months. We will find out what methods exist for growing this cabbage, how to plant it, and how to get a big crop.
What is Beijing cabbage?
Peking cabbage (Brassica rapa pekinensis) or petsai (English pe-tsai) is a biennial plant. In culture, it is grown as an annual vegetable. For the season, it is possible to get three crops. This vegetable plant appeared on the Russian market not so long ago - about 7-8 years ago. At first, Peking was exotic for Russians, today it is a popular food product that is in stable demand regardless of the season.
Beijing cabbage is an important cooking product. It has a valuable nutritional composition, soft structure and juiciness, goes well with meat, fish, vegetables. "Beijing" is included in a variety of dishes - salads, soups, cabbage rolls, etc.
Cabbage ripens in the fall, but when grown in a greenhouse, grows year-round. In the warm season, when greenhouses do not spend money on heating, and competitors appear in the form of seasonal vegetables, the price of Beijing cabbage falls.
Botanical Description
The leaves are juicy and tender, collected in a head or outlet. Color - green or light yellow, depending on the variety. Each leaf has a median vein, the edges are wavy or jagged. The wrong side of the leaves is pimply. Cylindrical heads of cabbage have oblong leaves. In the section, heads of cabbage are yellowish-green, whitish-green, yellowish-white - the color varies.
The main feature and difference of "Peking" from other types of cabbage is the absence of a stalk.
Origin
Peking cabbage not just got its name, its homeland is China. The first mention of this vegetable dates back to the 5th century. Judging by ancient records, this cabbage was used by the Chinese not only as a vegetable, but also as an oil plant. This cabbage remains an important crop for China today - it is cultivated everywhere in this country.
Culture spread
“Beijing” spread beyond the Middle Kingdom gradually - at first it came to Japan through northern China and the Korean Peninsula. In the 20th century, Japanese breeders bred many varieties and hybrids of Peking cabbage - they surpassed their predecessors in terms of early maturity, yield and taste.
When the “Beijing” hit the markets of Europe and America, it caused a real sensation. The magnificent taste of this vegetable quickly captivated local consumers, and farmers rushed to massively grow new cabbage. In Russia, Beijing cabbage has been known for about 10 years, now this vegetable continues to be actively introduced in domestic vegetable growing.
Benefit, harm and composition
Beijing cabbage is valued for its low calorie content. 100 g contains only 14 kcal - this is half as much as cauliflower and white cabbage. Nutritional value:
- proteins - 31.5%;
- carbohydrates - 64%;
- fat - 5%.
Beijing has a huge amount of useful substances, among them there are especially many:
- Vitamin C - participates in tissue regeneration and accelerates recovery after viral infections;
- vitamins A, E, K, B2, B6, B9;
- mineral salts;
- ascorbic, nicotinic, folic acidt - the latter is especially useful for the body of women;
- trace elements - iodine, zinc, manganese, iron, fluorine, selenium, potassium, calcium;
- lutein - contributes to the preservation of visual function;
- natural sugars - they are safe for the figure;
- fiber - removes toxins and toxins.
Beneficial features:
- improves the cardiovascular system;
- boosts immunity;
- strengthens the nervous system
- helps to cope with stress and migraine attacks;
- improves the digestive tract;
- promotes the formation of blood cells - prevents anemia;
- lowers cholesterol.
Contraindications:
- pancreatitis
- high acidity;
- peptic ulcer.
Nursing women are advised to use Chinese cabbage with caution. And in general, this vegetable should be consumed in reasonable quantities. Overeating can lead to stomach upsets.
Popular varieties
All varieties of Beijing cabbage are distinguished by maturity. There are 3 categories of varieties - early, mid-season and late. Universal varieties are especially appreciated - it is suitable for growing in different climates. Early cabbage is grown under shelters or in greenhouses.
Most of the following varieties are suitable for cultivation in the middle lane, in the northern regions they need to provide shelter for the night. Table 1 shows the popular varieties of Beijing cabbage.
Table 1
Grade | Ripening time | Weight of head of cabbage, kg | Note |
Russian size | 75-80 | 3-4 | This hybrid is able to grow in adverse conditions. Heads of cabbage are oblong, with wavy leaves. Outside, the leaves are pale green, inside - cream yellow. |
Mandarin orange | 40 | 0,8-1,2 | One of the earliest varieties. You can plant not only in spring, but also in early summer - you can collect several crops. Suitable for Siberia. |
Martha | 40 | 1-1,5 | Great taste. Early cabbage with medium-sized heads of cabbage. The variety is resistant to flowering. |
Garnet | 70-80 | 2-2,5 | Elongated heads of cabbage are large. The leaves are dark green. High immunity to diseases. |
Hydra F1 | 60 | 3-44 | Oblong head of cabbage with dark green leaves. Heads are magnificent, half-open. The taste is great. |
Victoria | 50-55 | 1,2-4 | It can be stored for a long time, retains taste for 3 months. Heads of cabbage are large, loose, cylindrical in shape. Juicy cabbage, suitable for making juice. |
Cha cha | 55-60 | 2,5-3 | Early ripe hybrid, suitable for the middle lane. Grown seedlings and seeds |
Wineglass | 70 | 1,5-2 | Heads of cabbage are dense, pleasant lime color. The variety is thermophilic, recommended for the southern regions. |
Manoko F1 | 50 | 0,8-1,5 | Heads are barrel-shaped. Leaves are broadly oval, bubbly. The hybrid is resistant to flowering. |
Beijing cabbage Russian size
Peking cabbage Orange mandarin
Beijing cabbage Martha
Peking cabbage Pomegranate
Peking cabbage Hydra
Peking cabbage Victoria
Chinese cabbage Cha Cha
Peking cabbage Glass
Peking cabbage Monaco
The best predecessors
Peking cabbage is recommended to be grown after legumes and grains. The best precursors for Beijing are crops, after which the soil retains a sufficient amount of nutrients.
Favorable predecessors:
- tomato;
- potatoes;
- zucchini;
- cucumbers
- onion;
- carrot.
It is not recommended to plant Beijing cabbage in areas where crops grew, with which it has common pathogens. Undesirable predecessors are other types of cabbage and beets.
How to plant Beijing cabbage for seedlings?
Seeds for seedlings begin to be sown 30 days before planting in the ground or in the greenhouse. To get an early harvest, seeds are sown in late March or early April. To get seedlings for cabbage, which will be intended for winter consumption, the seeds are sown in late June.
Preparing seeds for planting
If the seeds are purchased at the seed store, then they do not need special treatment. They do not need presowing treatment, they can be immediately planted in the substrate. If homemade seeds are used for sowing, they need to be sprouted to reveal unlikely.
How to germinate the Beijing seeds:
- Seeds are laid between layers of tissue dampened with water.
- Place the seeds in a warm place - for germination.
- After 3-4 days, sprouts appear in healthy seeds. Sprouted specimens are planted in containers filled with substrate. After 4-5 days, seedlings appear.
Seeds obtained independently are recommended to be treated with an antifungal compound. The seed is dipped for 15 minutes in hot water (50 ° C), and then immersed in cold water for a couple of minutes. Before planting, the seeds are dried.
Preparing soil for sowing
Seedlings are grown in loose soil. One of the best options is a coconut substrate - it is prepared from dried and crushed residues of the surface of coconuts. On this loose and breathable substrate, it is possible to grow selected seedlings, healthy and strong. The substrate is recommended to be mixed with humus in a ratio of 2: 1. To improve the nutritional qualities of the substrate, ash is added to it.
The second option for obtaining loose and nutritious soil mixtures for growing seedlings is sod-peat mixture. The ingredients are mixed in equal parts.
Sowing seeds for seedlings
Beijing cabbage does not tolerate any transplant. To avoid picking - seeds are sown not in common containers, but in separate containers. The best option - peat pots or cassettes. Its advantage is the possibility of planting in the ground with seedlings. This approach avoids the stress that accompanies cabbage seedlings during transplantation.
Sowing order:
- 2-3 seeds are planted in each pot to a depth of 0.5-1 cm.
- Water the crops.
- They put in a warm place. Crops are not needed during this period.
- When the seedlings appear, the pots are rearranged closer to the light.
Seedling Care
Seedlings need a lot of light, the optimum temperature for growth and development is approximately + 10 ° C.
Care Procedure:
- Regular watering. The substrate is moistened as needed. Water for irrigation is used warm, settled.
- Loosening. After watering, the soil is gently loosened.
- Thinning. When the first true leaves appear at the seedlings, the excess plants are removed. There must be one, the strongest and most healthy seedling.
Seedlings are ready for planting when 4-5 true leaves appear on it. This occurs approximately 30 days after sowing. Watering is stopped 3-4 days before planting in a permanent place,
How to transplant seedlings of Beijing cabbage in open ground?
If seedlings are grown in peat pots, then it does not have to be extracted - the seedlings are placed in the holes with the “container”. The tanks will mix with the soil over time, giving the plants additional nutrition.
8-10 days before the intended planting, the seedlings are hardened - they take it out onto the street. The hardening time gradually increases to one day - after which the seedlings are planted.
The plot on which seedlings are to be planted is prepared in advance, in autumn or spring. The soil is deeply dug, removing plant debris. When autumn digging, humus or compost is introduced.
Seedlings are planted according to several schemes:
- To make large heads of cabbage, seedlings are planted according to the scheme of 35x35 cm or 50x50 cm.
- If cabbage is grown for the sake of lettuce leaves, you can use a 30x25 cm pattern.
Disembarkation Procedure:
- Before planting seedlings, deepenings are prepared corresponding to the root system of seedlings.
- Superphosphate, urea and wood ash are placed in each well - a tablespoon.
- The peat pot is carefully placed in the recess and sprinkled with soil.
- The planted plant is watered under the root. Water for irrigation should be warm.
During the first 2 weeks of planting, it is recommended to cover with a film at night. In the morning, the film is removed.
To form quality heads of cabbage, planted seedlings artificially reduce daylight hours.
How an experienced gardener lands seedlings of Beijing cabbage in open ground is shown in the video below:
Seed cultivation
The seedless method avoids the stage of plant transplantation, which simplifies the cultivation of Beijing cabbage. Seeds are usually planted in open ground for late harvest - for autumn-winter use of heads of cabbage.
Chinese cabbage planting dates
The timing of landing of Beijing cabbage depends on the climatic characteristics of the regions and weather conditions. Sowing begins as soon as the soil warms up.
When choosing the timing of sowing, take into account the time of occurrence of the first frosts and the ripening dates of the variety. If, for example, the first frosts appear in early September, then later varieties will not have time to ripen. But in the southern regions, you can easily grow late-ripening varieties.
With direct sowing of seeds in the soil, three sowing periods are recommended:
- April 25-May 5;
- May 20-June 1;
- at the beginning of August.
In June and until mid-July, vegetables are not sown - such plantings develop bloom. The optimum temperature for the development of Beijing is from +16 to + 22 ° C. Table 2 shows the timing of sowing seeds for different cultivation methods (for regions with a temperate climate).
table 2
Growing method | Early ripe varieties | Mid-season | Late ripening |
Seedling | mid March to mid April | beginning of April | don't plant |
Open sowing | May | May | end of July - first decade of August |
Sowing in greenhouse soil | April | April | mid august |
Planting pattern
When sowing Beijing cabbage directly into the ground, accuracy is needed - the seeds are immediately distributed in their holes. The distances between adjacent depressions depend on the variety:
- for early varieties - the interval between adjacent holes 30-40 cm;
- for late varieties - 45-50 cm.
If for some reason the plantings have turned out to be too frequent - perhaps the gardener wanted to play it safe and sow the seeds too often, they will have to be thinned out.
Early ripe leaf varieties are sown with an interval of 10 cm. When the leaves appear in the plants, they are torn off into salads - free space for other plants.
Sowing seeds in the ground
The procedure for sowing in open ground:
- On prepared beds - dug and fertilized, make markings in accordance with the planting scheme.
- Sowing can be done in two ways - in done furrows or in single holes. The best option is to make a small ridge, and in it there are holes with an interval of 25-30 cm. Seeds are sown thicker in the furrow - at a distance of 10 cm. Then all extra seedlings are then removed.
- Several seeds are put in each hole - 2-3 pieces are enough. Depth of landing - 1.5 cm.
- The planted seeds are sprinkled with soil, and slightly compacted with a palm.
- After a couple of weeks, the seedlings are thinned, leaving the best sprout.
Experienced gardeners are advised to cover the sprouts with plastic bottles with open covers - so that the cabbage, cruciferous flea and slugs do not attack the delicate shoots.
Care for cabbage in the garden
In order for Beijing cabbage to grow tasty and large, it is important to provide it with everything necessary during growth - to protect it from adverse natural influences, to water and feed it in time, and to save it from diseases and insects.
If the seedling method of cultivation is used, it is recommended to cover young plantings with a special cloth - agrofibre or lutrasil.
Benefits of growing under shelter:
- Shelter protects cabbage from the cold and from the scorching sun. Young plants develop well at temperatures from +13 to + 25 ° C, a favorable microclimate is created under the canvas for them.
- Protects roots from rot during the rainy season.
- Saves plants from cruciferous fleas.
Half a month after transplanting seedlings, the beds are mulched - sprinkled with peat or chopped straw. This agrotechnical technique allows you to retain moisture in the soil and inhibits the growth of weeds. Mulching allows you to do without hilling. Loosening is necessary only at the initial stage, when the plants grow, you can do without loosening.
Watering
For full development, a culture needs regular watering. Moisturize the cabbage copiously. Recommended frequency is once a week. For watering, warm water is used, it is poured only under the root - water that has fallen on the leaves causes burns. The best time for watering is in the morning or in the evening, when the sun sets.
Excessive moisture is unacceptable - it can provoke rotting of the roots.Recommended soil moisture - 65%.
Top dressing
Beijing cabbage is a fast-growing culture, it is very responsive to feeding. Thanks to 2-3 dressings, it is possible to significantly increase the yield. But it is important not to forget - this vegetable quickly absorbs nitrates, so during the growing season you can not make a lot of mineral fertilizers. The frequency of feeding and their composition is in table 3.
Table 3
Top-up period | Composition | Note |
10-14 days after transplanting | Feeding options (for one plant - 1 liter of solution): - Mullein infusion solution - 1 kg is taken on a bucket of water; - a solution of poultry manure infusion, per bucket of water - 0.5 kg; - infusion of nettles and herbs. | If the culture is planted in the spring, then such dressing is carried out three times. Plants planted in the summer are fed 2 times. |
2 weeks after the first feeding | Complex fertilizer. | Make according to the instructions. |
2 weeks after the third feeding | Reapply organic matter. | Norms are the same as during the first feeding. |
To increase productivity, in addition to root top dressing, foliar can be used. For example, such a solution - in 1 liter of boiled water, boric acid (2 g) is dissolved. They take hot water when the acid is dissolved, add cold water - so much as to get 10 liters. The resulting solution is sprayed with cabbage in the evening.
Bloom
Peking cabbage is a short daylight plant. To form a head of cabbage, a short daylight is needed. Conditions suitable for heading out are observed in spring and autumn. If the daylight hours are long - more than 12 hours, and it is hot outside, the Beijing may shoot arrows. Cabbage blooms before heading out. So that the plant does not bloom, the temperature should not exceed + 20 ° C.
Features of growing in a greenhouse
The advantages of growing Beijing cabbage in a greenhouse are the ability to create optimal conditions for growth. Here it is possible to control the length of daylight hours, temperature and humidity. The best option is a heated greenhouse, in it you can grow "Beijing" all year round.
Growing Features:
- Beijing cabbage can be used to condense tomato and cucumber plantings.
- For greenhouses, it is recommended to use early ripe hybrids with a ripening time of 40-50 days. The yield of cabbage reaches one ton per hundred square meters. The best hybrids for growing in a greenhouse are Spring Jade F1 and Spring Beauty F1.
- The soil in the greenhouse should be light and fertile. Before sowing seeds, the soil is disinfected - treated with steam or watered with a solution of copper sulfate. This event is especially important if before that a black leg, keel or other cabbage diseases were seen in the greenhouse.
- Sowing in the greenhouse begins in early March or even earlier. This is if the greenhouse is heated, when using unheated greenhouses, sowing is carried out later - at the end of March.
- In greenhouses, you can use any method of growing - direct sowing of seeds or seedlings.
- Leaving in a greenhouse involves regular soil moisture, fertilizing and thinning.
Diseases and Pests
Beijing cabbage, due to the shortness of the vegetative period, is rarely sick. But those who want to eat its succulent leaves - plenty, this:
- cruciferous flea;
- aphid;
- slugs;
- caterpillars of the butterfly cabbage;
- crucifer bug.
To prevent insect attacks, the following preventative measures are used:
- destroy weeds on time;
- sow seeds on time and cover plantings with special canvases;
- observe crop rotation;
- plant nearby onions, petunias, marigolds and other plants that repel pests;
If the plantings are affected by a cruciferous flea, they are sprinkled with a composition of ash and tobacco dust mixed in equal parts. You can also process cabbage with Fitoverm. If the lesions are severe, “Aktara” and other potent insecticides are used.
Beijing cabbage can be affected by mosaics, keel, white rot, black leg, downy mildew, tracheomycosis. For the fight and prevention using such methods:
- sprinkled with wood ash - helps against powdery mildew, real and false;
- sprayed with "binoram" - from bacterial rot;
- carry out pre-sowing treatment of seeds;
- Prevention of overmoistening - in order to avoid the black leg, if the disease still hit the cabbage, “Fitosporin” or Bordeaux is used.
Collection and storage of the harvest of Beijing cabbage
The collection time and shelf life of Beijing cabbage depend on the characteristics of the variety. Heads are resistant to cold - can withstand temperatures up to minus 5 ° C. Therefore, you can not rush with cleaning.
Varieties planted in the second half of summer ripen in September. Later varieties are harvested in mid-October. Early ripening varieties are not used for winter storage, but cabbage planted in July lies before the New Year.
Features of collection and storage:
- Head out to frost. Frozen Beijing will not be stored.
- Overriding should not be allowed - overgrown heads of cabbage are worse in taste and are not stored for a long time.
- Do not water the cabbage before harvesting.
- For long-term storage lay only fully formed healthy heads of cabbage that do not have rotten or damaged leaves.
- Store heads in the basement or in the refrigerator. Heads of cabbage are wrapped in cling film or stacked in bags. Tightness is not needed - a little air should flow to the vegetable.
- Apples and other fruits cannot be stored next to Beijing cabbage.
- So that condensation does not form under the film, the heads of cabbage are cooled for 3-4 hours before laying in the package.
- If you do not pack the cabbage, they will lie for no more than 10 days.
- Leaves can be frozen, previously laid out in bags.
- To keep the cabbage heads in the cellar, they are uprooted. Cabbage is put in boxes filled with moistened sand - they are sprinkled with roots. Can be stored in bags - they are placed in boxes.
- The temperature in the cellar should be in the range from 0 to + 3 ° C. The optimum humidity is 95%.
- Every two weeks, heads of cabbage are examined for rotten and dry leaves, and when they are found, they are cut off.
Popular bugs
The most common mistakes gardeners:
- An improperly selected time for sowing seeds leads to flowering. A similar effect causes the wrong timing of planting seedlings. Those who doubt the success are encouraged to use hybrids - they have less developed shooting.
- With too dense plantings, the plant does not receive proper nutrition and space for growth - this leads to the flowering of part of the crops. To prevent this situation, it is necessary to observe the intervals during planting and thin out the plants as necessary.
- When planting seedlings in cold soil, plants stop growing. As a result, they do not have time to ripen, while they often throw arrows.
- Extreme heat also contributes to shooting. If the temperature rises above + 22 ° C, you should not be too lazy to create artificial shading for the plantings by throwing a special canvas on them.
- If the cabbage is not removed on time, it will bloom.
Flowering beijing cabbage
Reviews
Vasily Egorovich, amateur gardener, Lipetsk region. I grow Peking in a greenhouse. At first I tried to grow it in the usual way - in open ground. But she did not take root well, then the heads of cabbage let out arrows and bloomed. Now I grow in a greenhouse - there is no problem with shooting. I plant different varieties - mostly early.
Polina Sh., 45 years old, Krasnodar Territory. Most of all I like Victoria. Her heads of cabbage are perfectly stored, moreover, in winter they become even tastier. She has very juicy leaves - ideal for salads. It grows best in the greenhouse, but it ripens perfectly in my open ground, the main thing is to cover the seedlings with foil after planting.
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There are several important nuances in growing Chinese cabbage. The main condition for obtaining the crop is the timely sowing of seeds. It is worth confusing dates, and instead of succulent heads of cabbage, you will get a flowering plant. The rest of the agricultural technology "Beijing" does not stand out anything special - to grow this vegetable under the power of each gardener.
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