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Brassica rapa pekinensis
  • Chinese Cabbage

an annual member of the Brassica genus in the family Brassicaceae.

Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • light shade
    Light shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • very acid,acid,neutral,alkaline
    Very acid to Alkaline
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • ?
    Unknown
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Brassica rapa pekinensis has 0 edible uses listed
Brassica rapa pekinensis has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Leaves - raw or cooked[1][2][3]. A crisp, watery texture with a naturally sweet taste, it is best eaten raw in salads[1][4]. The plant can be eaten as a young seedling, or left to grow into a mature plant[4]. The flavour is quickly ruined by prolonged cooking[4]. Leaves can also be dried for winter use[4]. The heads of mature plants can be 50cm long and weigh up to 4.5 kg[5][4]. Fresh leaves do not store well and are best used within a day or two of harvesting[4]. A nutritional analysis is available[6]. Flowering shoots - raw or cooked[4]. Sweet and tender[7].

Flowers

Unknown use

Leaves

Unknown use

Material uses

There are no material uses listed for Brassica rapa pekinensis.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The leaves are depurative[6].

Unknown part

Depurative

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - it can be sown from late May to September in situ[4]. The spring sown crops often run to seed very quickly but 'barrel' types can be sown at this time. If seedlings are germinated at a temperature of 18 - 20°c and then grown on at this temperature for their first few weeks, they are then less likely to bolt[4]. Seed usually germinates within 3 - 4 days[4]. A late summer sowing under protection can provide leaves in the winter[4]. Seedlings can be transplanted when about 3 - 4 weeks old[4].

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Brassica rapa pekinensis. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Succeeds in a well-drained fertile preferably alkaline soil[8][9][5]. Succeeds in acid and alkaline soils[10][5]. Prefers a pH in the range 6.5 to 7[4]. Tolerates a pH in the range 4.3 to 6.8. Prefers a heavy soil[8] and grows badly in sandy ones[5]. Prefers full sun[5][4] and a sheltered position[4]. Likes some shade[8]. Drought resistant according to one report[2], whilst another says that the plants are shallow-rooted and have very little resistance to drought[4]. They require about 5 gallons of water from sowing to maturity[4].

Plants are not fully winter hardy in Britain, though mature plants withstand light frosts to about -3°c[2][4]. Plants prefer coolish weather during their growing season, a temperature range of 13 - 20°c is ideal[4]. The Chinese cabbage is widely cultivated, especially in China and Japan, for its edible leaves[11]. It looks like a large cos lettuce or cabbage and has a crisp, watery texture with a mustard-like taste[12]. There are many named varieties[11][4]. Those forms with loose heads were developed for areas with hotter summers, whilst compact-headed forms were developed for cooler areas[4]. The loose-headed forms are less prone to bolt, are more resistant to cold and are more disease-resistant[4]. An annual to biennial species, it is normally grown as an annual[4]. Plants take from 55 - 100 days from sowing to maturity, depending on variety, the loose-headed forms are usually 2 - 3 weeks faster than compact-headed forms[4]. Plants do not like root disturbance so should not be transplanted unless grown in individual pots[4]. Plants are highly resistant to fungus attacks and the cabbage moth[2], they are also slow to bolt in hot weather[2]. Some cultivars are more resistant to bolting when sown in spring than other forms[4]. There is some evidence that interplanting this species with dill and garlic can lessen the attacks of caterpillars[4].

A good bee plant[13].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Brassica rapa pekinensis. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Brassica rapa pekinensis.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Brassica rapa pekinensis
Genus
Brassica
Family
Brassicaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]
Medicinal uses
[6]
Material uses & Functions
Botanic
[5]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
?
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
light shade
Soil PH
very acid, acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    ?
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    annual
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    0.45 x meters
    Fertility
    self fertile
    Pollinators
    Bees
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite











    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.2 Brooklyn Botanic Garden Oriental Herbs and Vegetables, Vol 39 No. 2. Brooklyn Botanic Garden (1986-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.12.22.32.42.5 Natural Food Institute, Wonder Crops. 1987. ()
    3. ? 3.03.1 Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press (1952-00-00)
    4. ? 4.004.014.024.034.044.054.064.074.084.094.104.114.124.134.144.154.164.174.184.194.204.214.224.234.244.254.264.27 Larkcom J. Oriental Vegetables John Murray ISBN 0-7195-4781-4 (1991-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.15.25.35.45.55.6 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.16.26.3 Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. ISBN 0-917256-20-4 (1985-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.1 Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 1. Thompson and Morgan. (1987-00-00)
    8. ? 8.08.18.2 Simons. New Vegetable Growers Handbook. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-050-0 (1977-00-00)
    9. ? Larkcom. J. Salads all the Year Round. Hamlyn (1980-00-00)
    10. ? Taylor. J. The Milder Garden. Dent (1990-00-00)
    11. ? 11.011.1 RHS. The Garden. Volume 112. Royal Horticultural Society (1987-00-00)
    12. ? Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Vegetables Macmillan Reference Books, London. ISBN 0 333 62640 0 (1995-00-00)
    13. ? International Bee Research Association. Garden Plants Valuable to Bees. International Bee Research Association. (1981-00-00)


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    Facts about "Brassica rapa pekinensis"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyBrassicaceae +
    Belongs to genusBrassica +
    Has binomial nameBrassica rapa pekinensis +
    Has common nameChinese Cabbage +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partFlowers + and Leaves +
    Has edible useUnknown use +
    Has fertility typeSelf fertile + and Bees +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has lifecycle typeAnnual +
    Has mature height0.45 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useDepurative +
    Has search namebrassica rapa pekinensis + and chinese cabbage +
    Has shade toleranceLight shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceVery acid +, Acid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil texture preferenceSandy +, Loamy + and Clay +
    Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomic rankSpecies +
    Has taxonomy nameBrassica rapa pekinensis +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    PFAF cultivation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF edible use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF material use notes migratedYes +
    PFAF medicinal use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF propagation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF toxicity notes migratedYes +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +
    Has subobjectThis property is a special property in this wiki.Brassica rapa pekinensis +, Brassica rapa pekinensis + and Brassica rapa pekinensis +