engleski

Pakchoy (Brassica rapa L. ssp. chinensis (L.) Hanelt) in spring and overwinter crop

As a less known vegetable sort, pakchoy is being introduced in production in north-west Croatia. Previous investigations showed that the cultivation for autumn harvest (October) was possible. This paper aims to establish the possibility of spring and overwinter cultivation. During 1992 and 1993 the experiment in spring term (April-June) was made with two cultivation methods (direct sowing and seedlings) and two types od direct covering material (PP “Agryl P17” and perforated PE-film). In 1992, seedlings were not covered owing to high temperatures in time of transplanting. The seedlings method without covering in 1992 brought the highest yield and average plant mass (5.74 kgm-2; 362 g). At direct sowing method not one plant had a bolting tendency, while the largest portion of flowering plants occured with “Agryl P17” covering (17.6 %). In 1993 remarkably higher yields were obtained with covering (11.6 kgm-2 both materials), in relation to the uncovered crop (8.9 kgm-2). The portion of flowering plants was almost equal and satisfactory for all combinations (up to 6 %). From 1991 up to 1994 the possibility of overwintering in unheated plastic house (cv. Japro, Hypro F1, Bejo F1; from seedlings) was investigated. The best behaviour at the harvest time showed cv. Hypro F1, with the lowest number of damaged and flowering plants, and satisfactory yield (4.2 kgm-2). This investigation established that the climatic conditions of north-west Croatia permit the cultivation of pakchoy from seedlings in spring term even without direct covering. Overwinter cultivation in unheated plastic house is also possible. This beins of great importance, because it can be the earliest vegetable sort for fresh market, since its harvesting happens about one month before the overwinter lettuce.

pakchoy; spring and overwinter production; direct covering; yields

nije evidentirano