On country beds rarely found vegetable vegetables - cabbage Choi. She is a close relative of Beijing cabbage, which has already become familiar to us thanks to supermarkets. The appearance of Pak Choi is like a salad, it is spiced quickly, it is easy to grow it. Traditionally, it is cultivated and used to prepare various dishes in China.
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Description and characteristics of Chinese cabbage Pak Choi
During growth, a upright rosette of leaves is formed instead of a head of a plant. Its exact size determines the grade. In general, the diameter of the outlet 30-35 cmits height from 10 to 50 cm.
Gentle leaves, blue-green or grayish-green, have dense white petioles, tight to each other.
There are several varieties of Chinese cabbage Pak Choi:
- Leafy;
- Chereshkovaya;
- Head.
It is worth growing at a dacha leaf view. Leaves and petioles, in addition to vitamin C, chlorophyll, potassium, magnesium and carotene, contain lysine. A substance that stimulates the immune system, helps the body fight infections and cancer cells.
Fresh leaves are included in salads, they have a slight bitterness and taste very much like arugula. Thick, white petioles stew or boil.
Leafy and petiolous varieties of Russian selection, which need to pay attention:
- Swallow;
- Lebedushka;
- Alenushka;
- Peahen.
On sale there are also seeds of the Japanese selection. These are hybrids resistant to diseases and very early ripening:
- Marie;
- Pagoda;
- Express.
Advantages and disadvantages
Fast production within 30-40 days - a big plus culture. The advantages include simplicity and the possibility of growing in soils of any kind.
When choosing a variety, you need to pay attention to such characteristics as the tendency to color bloating and bolting. It is better to acquire sustainable non-arrow varieties and hybrids. A plant that has thrown away a flower stalk loses its taste and its commercial qualities.
In short, the value of a species can be formulated as follows:
- Short vegetative period (not more than 50 days).
- Cold resistance.
- Resistance to pathogens.
Growing seedlings
Gardeners prefer to grow seedlings for quick production. For family consumption of seeds at a time does not need much to sow. It is better, starting from the end of March, to land in several receptions. Sow in small portions - 10 seeds at a time.
Such a fractional sowing at weekly intervals ensures uniform cabbage ripening from June to the end of September. Pak Choi does not tolerate transplantation, so the seeds sown in separate cups of small size.
Soil needed loose, the seeds in it sprout faster. Sprouts will appear in 5, maximum 7 days. Planted on the ridge seedlings with a few leaves and a well-formed root.
Care is reduced to watering, lighting up, maintaining the air temperature in the room. from 15 to 18 degrees.
Growth conditions for this variety
The soil on the ridge should be loose, fertile and always wet. So that the cabbage does not hurt, it received enough nutrients from the soil, do not land her after the following vegetable crops:
- Radish
- Turnip.
- Swede.
- Radish.
- Cabbage (all kinds).
Planted in partial shade Pak Choi has a more delicate flavor, but matures longer.
Experienced gardeners are considered the most appropriate time for planting summer months (July August). Daylight is decreasing, cabbage is not arrow. In July ridges are released. During this period, remove the bow.Pak Choi is planted in his place.
How to prepare the soil for cultivation
If the soil is clay, garden beds for cabbage dig from the fall. Add a bucket of humus, adding to it a superphosphate (1 tbsp. L) and a glass of ash.
If the soil is light loamy or black soil, dig up the ground in spring. one week before transplant. In this case, in addition to the superphosphate, add urea (1 tsp). The fertilizer rate is given for 1 m².
How to plant cabbage in open ground
Their size should correspond to the volume of earthen coma seedlings. Place pits in rows with a step equal to 30 cm in a row and leave the same between the rows.
Seedlings transplant transshipment method. On the eve it should be watered moderately so that the earthy lump could easily be taken out of the cup, and it would not fall apart during the transplant. Sticking cabbage into the hole, you need to sprinkle the roots with earth, compact the earth and pour it with settled water.
Departure after landing
Care after planting is very simple. He is in periodic watering. Chemistry and fertilizer do not need to use.The soil was filled with organic matter when planting. These nutrients are enough to get full-fledged outlets.
Diseases and their prevention
Fear is worth cruciferous flea, a known pest of all plants that belong to the cruciferous family. After the seedlings have been transplanted to the ridge, you need to take care of it:
- Sprinkle the ground between the plants with ash or red pepper to scare away the flea beetles.
- For a week at least 2 times to loosen the ground. At the same time remember that the roots of Pak Choi do not lie deep. Loosen only the top layer of 3 cm.
Harvesting and storage rules
You can pick cabbage throughout the growing season. The socket must be cut with a knife departing from the base by 1.5 cm. For long-term storage culture is not intended. The best option - use on the day of cleaning.
The harvest can be stored in the refrigerator within a few days. To do this, you need to disassemble the outlet, wash, dry. Separate leaves from stalks and store in plastic bag or plastic container. Dried petioles should be stored separately in an airtight container or bag.
To master the cultivation of this vegetable is easy.You will be able to include in your diet new oriental dishes. The use of healthy cabbage has a positive effect on health. Good immunity support on the eve of winter does not hurt.