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Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis

Chinese cabbage

Common names: Peking cabbage, Celery cabbage

Chinese cabbage

Photo: Jamie Nettles · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source

This description was machine-translated.

Description

The Chinese cabbage forms elongated, tender-leaved heads that taste mild and juicy, suitable for raw salads, quick cooking, or fermentation. It is a classic autumn cabbage, when sown too early in high summer it may bolt into flower instead of forming a head.

Care instructions

Sow or plant only from July to early August so that the shortening days do not trigger bolting, and give it about a handbreadth more spacing. Keep the soil consistently moist and nutrient-rich, and harvest the firm heads in September before the first hard frosts, light frost is tolerated.

Soil & site

Soil pH

4.0pH 6–78.0

Soil type

loamy, humus-rich, well-drained, nutrient-rich, moist

LightPartial shade
HardinessFrost-sensitive
Crop rotationBrassicas
Water needHigh

Feeding

Heavy feeder

Companion planting

Good neighbors

legume family (Fabaceae)

particularly well established

Leguminous plants collect nitrogen in the soil, from which Brassicaceae benefit as heavy feeders.

For example Pole beanBroad beanMarker peaSugar peaRed beanLima bean and 29 more species in the catalogue

Source: classic companion planting (DACH-Gartenpraxis)

carrot family (Apiaceae)

You can pair celery and dill with all Brassicaceae because they repel the cabbage whitefly with their scent, a proven companion.

For example Carrotcelery rootDillParsleyCarrot fennelCoriander and 19 more species in the catalogue

Source: Bio-Gärtnerei Mixed-culture Practice

mint family (Lamiaceae)

You will notice that the intense scent of basil, thyme, and others confuses the cabbage whitefly and keeps it away from the cabbage family.

For example LavenderThymeBasilRosemarySageHyssop and 31 more species in the catalogue

Source: bio-gardening intercropping practice

nasturtium family (Tropaeolaceae)

Nasturtium serves as a trap plant for you. Aphids and cabbage whiteflies prefer it over the brassicaceae next to it.

For example Tropaeolum majusMashua

Source: Trap plant practice in organic horticulture

Companion planting is partly traditional gardening lore. Where the reason is known, it is given.

Some of these explanations were machine-translated.

Diseases & pests

4 relevant

From the knowledge base, automatically linked by affected species. How to spot and prevent them is covered in full in the lexicon.

PestmediumApr–Aug
Flea beetle

Phyllotreta

Flea beetles are tiny, black or metallic shiny beetles that jump away when touched.

More on Flea beetle
PesthighApr–Sep
Cabbage fly

Delia radicum

The cabbage fly lays its eggs at the root collar of crucifers, and the white maggots feed on the roots and root collars.

More on Cabbage fly
DiseasehighMay–Sep
Clubroot

Plasmodiophora brassicae

Clubroot is a soil-borne fungal disease caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae that affects all cruciferous plants.

More on Clubroot
PesthighMay–Sep
Large White

Pieris brassicae

The Large White is the striking white moth whose yellow and black caterpillars can devour cabbage plants down to the leaf veins in a short time.

More on Large White

Notes from real gardens

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