Beginning of Winter Farming

During Beginning of Winter, both the autumn harvest and autumn land preparation are fully complete across Northeast China. The ground begins to freeze, temperatures fall below 0°C, snowfall becomes more frequent, and agricultural activity enters the traditional “猫冬” period, when the focus moves away from the fields and toward storage, maintenance, and preparation for the year ahead.
The “猫冬” period fully begins. This traditional winter slack season does not mean that agricultural work stops; rather, it changes location and form. Farmers regularly inspect maize, rice, soybeans, and other grain already in storage, protecting it from moisture, insects, and rodents, since storage quality directly affects annual farm income, while market-price movements are watched closely to determine the timing of sales. Seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, agricultural film, and other inputs are purchased in advance, often at lower off-season prices, while large tractors, seeders, harvesters, and other machinery are inspected and serviced during winter so they will be ready for spring sowing. This is also the time to formulate planting plans for the coming year, using market conditions, policy direction, and soil conditions to determine crop areas and cultivar choices for maize, soybeans, and rice. Thus, although field activity is limited during “猫冬”, indoor preparation remains equally important.
Winter management in pastoral areas. In eastern Inner Mongolia, livestock move into housed feeding and supplementary feeding becomes fully established. Shelters are reinforced, bedding is added, and drafts are kept out, while herders calculate forage reserves and daily feed requirements carefully to ensure that animals can endure the long winter safely. During heavy snowfall, they must also guard against “白灾”, when blizzards cover grazing land and prevent livestock from feeding.
Protected agriculture. Greenhouse vegetables enter a busy production period, with cucumbers, tomatoes, leafy vegetables, and other crops reaching fruiting or harvest. Temperatures need to be maintained at 25–28°C during the day and 12–15°C at night, while insulation is strengthened with straw curtains or thermal covers and cold-air intrusion is prevented. Because winter days are short, light management also becomes important, and insulation covers should be opened at appropriate times to extend the available period of illumination.

During Beginning of Winter, Northwest China enters a critical stage of winter-wheat overwintering management. Seedling care continues, winter irrigation becomes fully established, and basic farmland improvement—including autumn fertilization, land leveling, and maintenance of irrigation infrastructure—advances on a broad scale.
Winter-wheat seedling management continues. Wheat sown from mid-September through early October has fully emerged and enters tillering. Management centers on promptly resowing or transplanting areas with missing plants, controlling aphids, cutworms, and other seedling-stage pests, and removing weeds before winter so they do not compete with wheat for water and nutrients. Aphids require particular attention because they transmit wheat yellow dwarf disease, while pre-winter weed control is more effective than spring treatment. The objective is to establish strong plants with 3–5 tillers and a well-developed root system before winter, forming the basis of safe overwintering and a good harvest the following year; weak stands may receive 3–5 kg of urea per *mu* as a seedling-stage topdressing. By contrast, fields with excessive growth are firmed to suppress the canopy, encourage root development, and reduce the risk of both premature stem elongation and winter freezing injury. The quality of this seedling-stage management directly affects overwinter survival and the following year’s yield.
Winter irrigation becomes fully established. In the arid regions of Northwest China, winter irrigation is one of the key measures for ensuring winter-wheat survival. It is carried out before soil freeze-up, when the ground freezes at night and thaws during the day, allowing the water to infiltrate deeply before the surface refreezes and forms a protective layer. The irrigation rate is 40–60 cubic meters per *mu*, enough to wet the soil thoroughly without leaving standing water; after irrigation, there should be neither ponding nor exposed ice on the surface. By increasing soil heat capacity and slowing the decline in ground temperature, this practice helps protect wheat seedlings through winter. The proverb “立冬不浇地，麦苗冻在地” captures its importance in vivid terms.
Basic farmland improvement advances fully. During the agricultural slack period, farmers apply farmyard manure or compound fertilizer in preparation for spring sowing or winter-wheat green-up, with organic fertilizer incorporated before the soil freezes. Land leveling is used to improve irrigation conditions and increase water-use efficiency, while canals, wells, reservoirs, and other water-conservancy facilities are repaired in preparation for spring irrigation. Shelterbelts are also established, as winter is considered a favorable period for tree planting aimed at reducing wind, stabilizing sand, and improving the agricultural environment.
Specialty crops. Cotton harvesting in Xinjiang is fully complete and processing and marketing are broadly underway; red-date harvesting has also ended, giving way to drying, grading, packing, and sales.

During Beginning of Winter, North China enters a key stage of preparing winter wheat for overwintering. Plants move from emergence into tillering, winter irrigation begins progressively, and with autumn harvesting and sowing fully complete, agricultural activity shifts as a whole toward winter preparation.
Winter-wheat management from emergence through tillering is fully underway. Wheat sown from late September through early October has fully emerged and enters tillering. Gaps in plant stands should be resown or transplanted promptly, since weak seedlings from late sowing face greater overwintering risk. At the same time, aphids, cutworms, and other seedling-stage pests are controlled and weeds are removed before winter to reduce competition for water and nutrients. The aim is to establish strong plants with 3–5 tillers and a well-developed root system; weak stands may receive 3–5 kg of urea per *mu* as a seedling-stage topdressing, while excessively vigorous fields are firmed to restrain aboveground growth, encourage root development, and reduce the risk of premature stem elongation and freezing injury. Strong pre-winter establishment is the foundation of safe overwintering and a good harvest the following year.
Winter irrigation begins progressively. Around Beginning of Winter, when temperatures fall to approximately 0°C and the soil freezes at night and thaws during the day, winter irrigation begins. The irrigation rate is 40–50 cubic meters per *mu*, enough to wet the soil deeply without causing waterlogging. Besides increasing soil heat capacity and slowing soil cooling, this irrigation helps protect the seedlings and stores moisture for spring green-up, so its quality directly affects both overwinter survival and the strength of spring recovery.
Agricultural work enters the overwintering-preparation stage. With autumn harvesting and sowing fully complete, farmers turn more attention to autumn fertilization, land leveling, repair of irrigation infrastructure, machinery maintenance, and advance purchase of seeds, fertilizers, and other inputs needed for the coming spring.
Winter orchard management. In apple, pear, and other orchards, work centers on orchard sanitation after leaf fall, winter pruning, and autumn fertilization. Dead branches, fallen leaves, diseased fruit, and infected shoots are removed and either burned together or buried deeply to reduce overwintering pests and pathogens. Winter pruning is carried out from leaf fall until bud break and involves removing dead, diseased, and crossing branches while adjusting tree structure; young trees are pruned mainly for training, while mature trees are pruned primarily for renewal and rejuvenation, and pruning wounds are coated with healing agents to prevent pathogen entry. Autumn fertilization, based mainly on organic fertilizer, should be completed before leaf fall to restore tree vigor and build nutrient reserves for growth and fruiting the following year. Winter pruning is one of the most important orchard operations, and its quality directly affects both yield and fruit quality in the next season.
Vegetable management. Storage of Chinese cabbage, radish, scallions, and other winter vegetables is fully complete, while greenhouse production enters its busiest period. Cucumbers, tomatoes, leafy vegetables, and other crops reach fruiting or harvest and require tighter temperature control, with 25–28°C during the day and 12–15°C at night, together with strengthened insulation and protection from cold.

During Beginning of Winter, the middle and lower Yangtze shifts from the closing stage of autumn harvesting and sowing toward overwintering preparation. The late-rice harvest is largely complete, rapeseed seedling management becomes fully established, and sowing of winter vegetables begins progressively.
The late-rice harvest is largely complete. Grain has been safely stored and the autumn harvest comes to an end, while paddy fields are plowed and prepared both for rapeseed overwintering and for spring planting in the following year.
Rapeseed seedling management is fully underway. Rapeseed sown in early to mid-October has fully emerged and enters the seedling stage. Fields with missing plants should be resown or supplemented through transplanting as soon as possible, while aphids, flea beetles, cabbage white caterpillars, and other pests are controlled without delay; aphids in particular require attention because they transmit viral diseases of rapeseed. Drainage is equally critical. Winters in the Yangtze basin are damp and cold, and young rapeseed tolerates waterlogging poorly, making it necessary to maintain a system of main ditches, cross-field ditches, and perimeter ditches with minimum depths of 80 cm, 60 cm, and 40 cm, respectively, so that water can drain rapidly once rain stops. Before winter, plants should develop 8–10 leaves and a well-established root system, and weak stands may receive 3–5 kg of urea per *mu* as a seedling-stage topdressing. The quality of management at this stage directly affects overwinter survival and yield the following year.
Winter-vegetable sowing begins progressively. Fields left free after the late-rice harvest are planted with Chinese cabbage, radish, lettuce, spinach, celery, and other winter vegetables, increasing land-use efficiency and farm income.
Winter orchard management. In citrus and other orchards, harvesting is followed by pruning and fertilization to restore tree vigor. Orchards are also cleaned by removing dead branches, fallen leaves, diseased fruit, and infected shoots to reduce overwintering pests and diseases, while winter pruning is carried out from leaf fall until bud break.

During Beginning of Winter, agricultural activity across Southwest China enters the overwintering-preparation stage. Rapeseed seedling management becomes fully established, winter-wheat seedling management proceeds steadily, and winter-potato planting begins progressively.
Rapeseed seedling management is fully underway. Farmers inspect stands, fill gaps, control aphids, flea beetles, and other seedling-stage pests, and pay particular attention to drainage. Because winters in Southwest China are damp and cold and rapeseed is sensitive to excess water, fields need well-maintained main ditches, cross-field ditches, and perimeter ditches. The goal is to establish strong plants with 8–10 leaves and a well-developed root system before winter, since the quality of this stage directly determines overwinter survival and yield the following year.
Winter-wheat seedling management proceeds steadily. Farmers inspect stands and fill gaps, control seedling-stage pests and diseases, remove weeds before winter, and work to establish strong wheat plants with 3–5 tillers.
Winter-potato planting begins progressively. On fields available during winter, especially in Sichuan, Guizhou, and Yunnan—important production areas—winter potatoes are planted to improve land-use efficiency and increase farm income. Seed potatoes are carefully selected, cut, and pre-sprouted; each piece weighs 25–30 g and carries 1–2 eyes, while the cut surface is disinfected with wood ash or carbendazim powder. Planting is carried out at a depth of 8–10 cm, with 60–70 cm between rows, 20–25 cm between plants, and a seed-potato rate of 150–200 kg per *mu*. Fields are then covered with plastic film to conserve heat and moisture and promote emergence and growth. Winter potatoes are an important cold-season cash crop in Southwest China.

#### (1) Mainland South China
Late-rice harvesting enters its final stage. Grain is progressively brought into storage and the autumn harvest comes fully to an end. As soon as the late-rice harvest is finished, paddy fields are plowed and prepared for winter crops.
Winter-crop sowing becomes fully established. Fields freed after the rice harvest are used for winter potatoes, winter maize, winter soybeans, winter vegetables, and other crops. The relatively mild winter climate of South China allows these crops to grow through the cold season, making winter production an important part of regional agriculture and a means of improving both land-use efficiency and farm income.
Tropical-fruit management. Banana harvesting enters its final stage and is followed by postharvest management such as field sanitation and fertilization. Citrus enters maturity and harvest, and early cultivars such as “十月橘” and “砂糖橘” begin to be picked in November; farmers take advantage of clear weather to harvest, grade, pack, and market the fruit. Overall, tropical-fruit harvesting approaches completion.
Field maintenance. After late rice is harvested, fields are plowed and prepared for winter crops and the following spring. Irrigation channels, reservoirs, and other water-conservancy facilities are repaired, while soil improvement is carried out through applications of organic fertilizer, lime, and other amendments.
#### (2) Taiwan
Rice: In central Taiwan—including Changhua, Yunlin, and the Chianan Plain—the second rice harvest is fully complete; the same is true in the south, particularly in the Kaohsiung–Pingtung region. In northern Taiwan, around Taoyuan and Hsinchu, the second harvest enters its final stage.
Vegetables: During Beginning of Winter, sowing and transplanting of winter vegetables continue across the island.
Fruit trees: Citrus enters maturity and harvest, while banana harvesting approaches completion.
Tea: In central and southern tea-growing areas such as Nantou and Chiayi, tea gardens enter winter management through pruning, fertilization, and field sanitation; the same applies in northern areas such as Wenshan and Sanxia.
Fisheries: Fishing continues in waters around Taiwan, but the strengthening northeast monsoon requires greater attention to safety during offshore operations.
Farmer’s proverbs and folk customs: Taiwanese folk tradition preserves the saying “立冬補冬，補嘴空”, referring to the custom of eating nourishing foods around Beginning of Winter to replenish the body. “立冬吃羊肉，一冬暖洋洋” expresses the idea of eating mutton at this time as a warming and nourishing food for the season. Another weather proverb, “立冬晴，一冬晴；立冬雨，一冬雨”, uses the weather observed on Beginning of Winter to predict the overall pattern of the coming winter.