Haku (F1) Chinese Cabbage Seed

Scientific name

Brassica rapa var. pekinensis

Season

Chinese cabbage does best maturing in the cooler weather and shortening days of late summer and fall. Spring crops work too, but guard against bolting: plant out or direct sow only after the last frost, since frost or a week or more of nights under 50°F (10°C) can make young plants bolt.

Days to maturity

Counted from transplanting; add 2–3 weeks for direct sowing.

Transplanting

Sow 2 seeds per cell, 1/4" deep, in 72-cell trays. If you can, keep the mix above 75°F (24°C) until seedlings emerge, then grow them on at 60–70°F (16–21°C). Plant out at 3–5 weeks, near the last frost date, without disturbing the roots, and water in. For summer and fall crops, start transplants in mid- to late June.

Direct sowing

From late May to mid-July, sow 3–4 seeds every 12–18" in rows 18–30" apart and thin to one plant per spot.

Seeding rate

At 3 seeds per foot in rows 2' apart: about 1,000 seeds per 333 ft., 5,000 per 1,666 ft. and 66,000 per acre.

Insect pests

Row cover laid at planting keeps off flea beetles and cabbage root maggots.

Disease prevention

Prevention is the main tool: rotate away from cabbage-family crops for several years, start seedlings in clean mix and clean beds, and keep tools and fields sanitary.

Harvest

Cut when heads are very firm.

Storage

Heads keep 1–2 months in a cold, humid cooler, or in a root cellar if trimmed and wrapped in paper.

Transplants

About 700 plants per 1,000 seeds.

Packet

100 seeds.

Seeds per lb.

About 100,000 on average.