Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Chinese Cabbage 'Michihili' (Brassica rapa var. pekinensis 'Michihili')— schedule & NPK
Also called Michihili cabbage, celery cabbage, Chinese celery cabbage.
More about chinese cabbage 'michihili'
About Chinese Cabbage 'Michihili'
Brassica rapa var. pekinensis 'Michihili' · also called Michihili cabbage, celery cabbage · edible
'Michihili' is a tall, cylindrical Chinese cabbage forming a tightly packed, upright head of crinkled, mild-flavoured leaves on crisp white midribs. A cool-season brassica, it is best sown in mid-to-late summer for an autumn harvest, maturing in around 70-80 days. Steady moisture and unbroken cool growth are key to firm, full hearts.
Growth habit: Upright, fast-growing biennial grown as an annual, forming a tall, narrow cylindrical head of densely packed leaves on prominent white midribs.
Watch for — Loose or non-hearting heads: Caused by dry soil, poor fertility, or wide spacing. Keep richly fed and moist, and space at 30-40 cm for full hearts.
What fertiliser chinese cabbage 'michihili' actually wants — and why
Chinese Cabbage 'Michihili' is grown entirely for its leaves, so nitrogen is the priority — steady, nitrogen-leaning feeding keeps it growing fast, tender and unbolted.
A nitrogen-leaning feed (higher first number) or compost-rich soil — nitrogen drives the fast, tender leafy growth this crop is grown for. Phosphorus and potassium matter far less here than for fruiting crops.
For the language behind the three numbers on the bottle — what nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium each do — see the NPK ratio explained entry. The short version for chinese cabbage 'michihili': match the feed to the job the plant is doing right now, not to a generic “plant food” on the shelf.
How often to feed chinese cabbage 'michihili', and which months
Feeding only earns its keep while the plant is in active growth and can use the nutrients — pour feed into a dormant or low-light plant and it simply builds up as root-burning salt. For chinese cabbage 'michihili':
Grow in rich soil and feed with a balanced fertiliser, then a nitrogen-rich liquid feed as heads begin to form, to push fast, leafy heading. In practice: a balanced or compost-rich start, then a nitrogen side-dress or liquid feed every 3-4 weeks through the cropping period in the main season (spring through early autumn).
The dormant-season rule matters more than the exact interval: skip feeding entirely when chinese cabbage 'michihili' is resting. For the wider context on indoor feeding rhythms across the seasons, the houseplant fertiliser schedule walks through the year month by month.
What strength to mix for chinese cabbage 'michihili'
Use the vegetable-feed label rate for chinese cabbage 'michihili'. Steady availability matters more than a strong dose — a check in growth makes leaves tough and can trigger bolting.
Feeding always goes onto already-damp soil, never dry roots — water chinese cabbage 'michihili' first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the chinese cabbage 'michihili' watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding chinese cabbage 'michihili'
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for chinese cabbage 'michihili':
- Very soft, floppy, dark-green growth that attracts aphids.
- Excess leafy growth at the expense of hearts/heads in cabbage and the like.
- Salt crust and scorched leaf edges in containers; nitrate-heavy leaves.
Signs you are under-feeding chinese cabbage 'michihili'
- Pale, yellow-green leaves, oldest first, and slow growth.
- Small, tough, bitter leaves and premature bolting.
- Weak, stunted heads in cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower.
If the symptoms point at watering, light or roots rather than nutrition, the full chinese cabbage 'michihili' care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
For container-grown chinese cabbage 'michihili', water until it drains freely each time and flush pots monthly with plain water to stop nitrogen salts accumulating; in the ground, good compost levels naturally buffer this.
Organic vs synthetic feeds for chinese cabbage 'michihili'
Organic options
Well-rotted manure or compost dug in, plus nitrogen-rich liquid feeds like diluted chicken-manure pellets or nettle feed. UK: pelleted chicken manure or Westland; US: Espoma Garden-tone or blood meal. Steady and soil-building.
Synthetic / liquid feeds
A balanced feed at planting then a high-nitrogen liquid or granular side-dress — UK: Growmore then a nitrogen feed or Phostrogen; US: a 10-10-10 then a high-N (e.g. 21-0-0) side-dress or Miracle-Gro.
Brand names are examples, not endorsements, and UK and US ranges differ — check the label’s own NPK and dilution rate, since formulations change.
Fertilising chinese cabbage 'michihili' — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does chinese cabbage 'michihili' need?
A nitrogen-leaning feed (higher first number) or compost-rich soil — nitrogen drives the fast, tender leafy growth this crop is grown for. Phosphorus and potassium matter far less here than for fruiting crops. Chinese Cabbage 'Michihili' is grown entirely for its leaves, so nitrogen is the priority — steady, nitrogen-leaning feeding keeps it growing fast, tender and unbolted.
How often should I feed chinese cabbage 'michihili'?
Grow in rich soil and feed with a balanced fertiliser, then a nitrogen-rich liquid feed as heads begin to form, to push fast, leafy heading. Grow in rich soil and feed with a balanced fertiliser, then a nitrogen-rich liquid feed as heads begin to form, to push fast, leafy heading. In practice: a balanced or compost-rich start, then a nitrogen side-dress or liquid feed every 3-4 weeks through the cropping period in the main season (spring through early autumn).
What strength of feed for chinese cabbage 'michihili'?
Use the vegetable-feed label rate for chinese cabbage 'michihili'. Steady availability matters more than a strong dose — a check in growth makes leaves tough and can trigger bolting.
What does over-feeding chinese cabbage 'michihili' look like?
Very soft, floppy, dark-green growth that attracts aphids. Excess leafy growth at the expense of hearts/heads in cabbage and the like. Salt crust and scorched leaf edges in containers; nitrate-heavy leaves. Letting chinese cabbage 'michihili' run short of nitrogen mid-crop is the main mistake — growth checks, leaves toughen and brassicas/leafy greens bolt or turn bitter. Keep nitrogen steadily available.
Should I flush the soil of chinese cabbage 'michihili'?
For container-grown chinese cabbage 'michihili', water until it drains freely each time and flush pots monthly with plain water to stop nitrogen salts accumulating; in the ground, good compost levels naturally buffer this.
Keep reading
- Chinese Cabbage 'Michihili' care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water chinese cabbage 'michihili' — the watering schedule
- The houseplant fertiliser schedule — feeding through the year
- NPK ratio explained — what the three numbers on the bottle mean
- How to fertilise tomato
- How to fertilise pepper
- How to fertilise cucumber
- All 5561 fertilising guides in the Growli library