Vegetable Seedling Handbook

Author: Chen Jingzhang / et al.
Editor-in-Chief: Feng Suping
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2000-01-01
Features: The introduction highlights that cultivating and using appropriately aged strong seedlings in vegetable production is a crucial step for achieving high and high-quality vegetable yields, thereby enhancing the economic benefits for growers. The book elaborates on the fundamental principles of vegetable seedling cultivation, the characteristics and applications of various seedling-raising methods, and the facilities required for seedling production, all in a clear and accessible language. Building on this foundation, the authors closely integrate the latest production experiences, providing detailed introductions to the seedling cultivation techniques for over 30 species across seven major categories of vegetables, including solanaceous vegetables, gourds, legumes, cabbage, leafy greens, alliums, and perennial vegetables. This book is grounded in practical production, rich in content, and highly practical, making it suitable for (broader vegetable farmers), vegetable specialists, grassroots technical extension personnel, as well as serving as a teaching reference for agricultural college students and faculty and a training textbook for rural agricultural technology. Excerpt:
(1) The Concept of Vegetable Seedling Cultivation
Vegetables come in a vast variety of species and cultivars, with diverse cultivation methods. However, vegetable cultivation primarily falls into two categories: direct sowing and seedling transplantation. Seedling transplantation involves sowing seeds or planting materials in seedbeds or containers that meet the growth requirements of seedlings. Once the seedlings reach the desired standards for production, they are transplanted into the main growing fields. Seedling cultivation is one of the key characteristics of vegetable production techniques. In China, except for most root vegetables and some legumes and leafy greens, the majority of vegetables can adopt seedling transplantation as a cultivation method. Whether in open-field or protected cultivation, and regardless of whether seeds or vegetative parts are used as planting materials, seedling cultivation can be applied according to production needs in different seasons. Additionally, seedling cultivation is widely used in vegetable seed multiplication.
(2) The Significance of Seedling Cultivation in Vegetable Production
The purpose of vegetable seedling cultivation is to produce sufficient and high-quality seedlings to meet production demands. While seedling transplantation requires some equipment and more labor-intensive seedling management, it offers advantages that direct sowing cannot match.
(1) Fully utilizes limited production seasons, extends the growth period of crops, and achieves early harvests with high yields. It is well-known that most vegetables, especially gourds and fruit vegetables, are warm-loving and sensitive to cold, fearing frost. In northern China, where natural conditions limit the growing season, these vegetables naturally have a short natural growth period. Therefore, direct sowing in open fields neither allows for early harvests nor ensures high and stable yields within a short growth period. Seedling transplantation effectively extends the vegetable growing season, thereby prolonging the growth period, enabling timely early planting and harvesting, and improving both yield and economic benefits.
(2) Improves land utilization, ensuring economical and rational land use. Generally, the seedling stage of vegetables is prolonged, accounting for 1/3 to 1/2 of the total growth period, while the individual nutritional area per plant is very small, only 0.5% to 1% of that of mature plants. As a result, direct sowing leads to prolonged periods of idle land with low utilization. Seedling cultivation allows seedlings to grow concentrated in small seedbed areas, reducing the time they occupy in the main fields. This enhances land utilization and increases the replanting index.
(3) Facilitates the creation of strong seedlings under artificial conditions. Vegetable seedling cultivation is often conducted during seasons when natural conditions are unsuitable for seedling growth. Since seedlings occupy minimal space, artificial conditions can be created to promote their growth, combined with meticulous management to produce strong seedlings that meet requirements. Additionally, it saves seeds and ensures uniformity in field planting.
(4) Enables timely planting to meet market demands and improve economic benefits. Vegetables are perishable goods, and their market prices are heavily influenced by supply and demand. As the saying goes, "a fast horse cannot catch fresh vegetables." Only by arranging seedling cultivation and planting in a timely manner can market demands be met, thereby enhancing the economic benefits for growers.
Although seedling cultivation has many advantages, some vegetables, such as root vegetables like radishes and carrots, asexually propagated vegetables like garlic and ginger, and fast-growing, densely planted leafy greens like fennel and fenugreek, are not suitable for or do not require seedling transplantation.