Chinese Cabbage

Frank J. Dainello,
Extension Horticulturist
Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M University




VARIETIES
Napa types- China Express, China Pride, China Flash, China Delight, Napa 50, Napa 60 Tango
Michihili- Jade Pagoda, Monument

SOIL PREFERENCE
Fertile, well-drained, medium textured soils, pH range of 6.0 - 6.5; relatively well adapted to heavy soils, but poorly adapted to light sands, can experience BO deficiency in sands.

OPTIMUM GROWING CONDITIONS
Cool days (55-70oF) with cool to cold nights (40-50oF). Temperatures above 75oF may cause tip burn. Prolonged temperature of 55oF can cause bolting; 15 - 20oF is normal freeze threshold.

ESTABLISHMENT
Direct seeded or transplanted
Optimum time=
Spring- soil seed zone temperature >50oF
Fall- soil seed zone temperature <100oF
Seeding rate lbs/A= 0.5 - 1.5 lbs/A at 0.25" depth (raw seed);
6 - 8 lbs/A (coated seed) at 0.5" depth.
Approx seed/oz= 9,000
Seedling spacing=
Fresh market- 1 - 2 rows on 24 to 40" wide raised beds with 10-18" in-row spacing
Processing-  

FERTILITY/FERTILIZATION
Rates presented as actual lbs/A N2, P2O and K2O (base actual application rates on soil test results).
Generalized rate lbs/A: 150 - 75 - 80
N- 100 - 130 pre-plant broadcast incorporated or split banded 4" on either of seed row, or injected through irrigation water; 25 - 30 lbs N/A side-dressed at thinning (4 true-leaf stage), or at transplanting.
P- 60 - 80 banded approx 2" below seed at planting.
K- 80 - 100 (Potassium not normally required in most areas of Texas)
*Note*- Use high phosphate starter solution on transplants (5 lbs 5-20-10, etc./100 gal water-8 oz/plt).

WATER/IRRIGATION
High water demand (20 - 30"). Uniform moisture levels required throughout growing season for optimum yields.

PEST MANAGEMENT
Major Diseases Control
Black rot Treated seed, resistant varieties
Downy mildew Ridomil Bravo, Bravo, Maneb, Aliette
Bacterial soft rot Copper Oxychloride
Anthracnose Benlate
Black leg Disease free seed
Hollow heart Supplemental boron (possible deficiency)
Tipburn Supplemental Ca and uniform moisture application (possible calcium transport problem)
Alternaria leaf spot Bravo, Bravo Ridomil, Maneb
Southern blight PCNB, Terrachlor
Nematode Dimethoate, Telone II, Telone C-17

Major Insects Control
Cabbage looper Bacillus thuringiensis (BT's), Asana, Lannate, Thiodan, Ambush
Diamondback moth Lannate, Thiodan
Aphid Diazinon, Thiodan, Orthene
Harlequin bug/Flea beetle Sevin, Thiodan
Broccoli head worm BT, Asana, Lannate
Root aphid Di-Syston
Root maggot Lorsban, Diazinon
Whitefly Admire
Mites Thirethrin, Dy-syston, Cythion

Weeds Control
Preplant incorporated Treflan, Devrinol, Dacthal
Pre-palnt Prefar
Preemergence Prefar, Goal, Dacthal, Devrinol, Dual
Postemergence Poast
*NOTE*--The above is a partial listing of controls intended as examples. Some labels may have been revoked since publication of this guide. Refer to product labels for specifics and use accordingly. Failure to do so may result in crop injury, death and/or citation for violation. Humans, animals and the environment may also be adversely affected by misuse.

HARVEST
Days after planting=
Direct seeded- 50 - 70
Transplanted- 35 - 50
Optimum stage=
Fresh market- When full grown
Processing-  
Normal method= Hand harvested.
Containers= Bulk wagons, bins
Grades/Grading/Handling=  
Small-  
Medium-  
Large-  
Packaging= 80 - 85 lb WGA crates; 45 - 54 lb 14.5 "WBG crates;
Anticipated yield/A= 15 - 20 tons

STORAGE/TRANSIT/CONDITIONS
32oF at 98- 100% RH
freezing point- 30.4oF
shelf life- 3 wks - 6 mos

COMMENTS/PRODUCTION KEYS
  • Warm temperatures and increasing day length will cause early flowering of the heads.
  • Soils pH >7.8 may induce black hollow stems; Solubor(Bo) at 5-10 lbs/A foliar applied prior to heading reduces severity.
  • Crop may have an alleopathic adverse effect on following crop.
  • High nitrogen requirements.
  • Shallow, horizontal rooting patterns dictates very shallow cultivation to ovoid root pruning and reduced yields.
  • Production on light soils requires high level of management.
  • Better suited to early fall production in most areas of the state.
  • Water management very critical for stand establishment of early fall direct seeded crop.

Texas Cooperative Extension, Horticulture Crop Guides Series
Revised November, 2003
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/vegetable/cropguides/cabbage.html
Prepared for Web delivery by Brooke Bludau, Amanda Zan, and Dan Lineberger