Cultivation

Open Field – Napa Cabbage

Brassica rapa L. subsp. pekinensis (Lour.) Hanelt

Cultivating napa cabbage in open fields requires strict adherence to light and temperature regimes to prevent bolting and ensure proper head formation.

In the reference 24 varieties crop Napa cabbage, where this is mentioned in the description.

Napa cabbage is a long-day crop and is prone to rapid bolting when day length exceeds 12–13 hours. Under open-field conditions, this restricts planting periods to early spring or the second half of summer. The plant does not tolerate temperatures above +22…+25 °C and requires protection from overheating, while showing resistance to short-term frosts down to –4 °C.

The root system of the crop is superficial and sensitive to mechanical damage, therefore seedling transplanting and hilling are not recommended. A critical requirement is constant soil moisture, as drying of the top layer negatively affects development. Calcium deficiency combined with excess nitrogen often causes tipburn on leaves.

In professional cultivation, the optimal planting density is 73,000–75,000 plants per hectare. The layout depends on the irrigation method: overhead irrigation requires row spacing of 70 cm, whereas drip irrigation allows for banded planting patterns. Due to the risk of common pest accumulation, especially the crucifer flea beetle, it is not recommended to plant the crop after other crucifers.

General information about the subject — on the page Open field.

Sources8

Varieties of Napa cabbage mentioned in the description

Selection based on the description text, not on official evaluation: these data are absent from registers. For specific variety details, please refer to its profile.