Most people are aware of white cabbage, which is most commonly used for salads, cooking borsch or sourdough. But there are other types of cabbage that you can plant on your site. Below we consider the main types, their advantages and properties.
Red-headed
This variety should be called violet. Externally, cabbage is no different from a white-headed vegetable, but the leaves have a red-violet color and high density. The vegetation period of red cabbage lasts from 5 months, the weight of the head on average is from 1 to 3.5 kilograms. The main advantages of this variety include the following factors:
- resistance to cold (young shoots withstand temperatures up to -5 degrees);
- the presence of anthocyanin in the composition (helps to increase the elasticity of capillaries, the regulation of their permeability);
- well developed root system.
The optimal temperature conditions for growing red cabbage fluctuate around +15 degrees, however, this type of cabbage is the most heat-resistant, so it grows well in temperate climates in the hot season. The bed should not be darkened. This type of cabbage needs moist soil, but do not overdo it, since stagnation of water is not good. Watering should be in moderation.
Seedlings of Red Cabbage
Ripening cabbage lasts up to 200 days
In the context of cabbage has a red-violet color
Broccoli
The product in its external characteristics differs little from cauliflower, but the inflorescences of the vegetable have a rich green hue. Most gardeners try to grow this type of cabbage on their plot, because broccoli is famous for its unpretentiousness and frost resistance - a vegetable does not lose its valuable qualities even at a temperature of -7 degrees.
Unlike other varieties of cabbage, broccoli is undemanding to soil fertility, but this does not mean that there is no need to fertilize cabbage. She still needs to be fed. It is necessary to regularly and often water the vegetable, especially at the moment when the heads begin to ripen. In hot weather, it would be good to put several containers with water on the bed to maintain high humidity.
Due to the lack of agricultural technology features, the vegetable has no drawbacks.
Broccoli seedlings
Broccoli prefers a cool climate
Inflorescences are cut off when they reach a diameter of 15 cm
Savoy
Ideal for cultivation in the middle lane. Savoy cabbage is a drought tolerant vegetable that is not interesting to pests. Externally, cabbage resembles a variety of white-headed vegetables, but has more tender and airy leaves, which makes it juicy and soft. The vegetative period of early varieties lasts about 3.5-4 months, which is why harvesting is minimal.
The peculiarity of the variety is resistance to frost, with short frosts, cabbage retains its taste and appearance.
Varieties of this species do not differ in productivity in comparison with white cabbage.
When there are about five leaves on the bushes, cabbage is planted in the ground
Cabbage is able to withstand frosts up to 8 degrees
Amino Acids and Pectins Discovered in Savoy Cabbage
Kohlrabi
Kohlrabi is a cabbage of health. The chemical composition of the vegetable is comparable to citrus crops, because many cooks especially appreciate this species. Gardeners are not so willing to use the crop for growing in their plots. And in vain, since the fruits have a beneficial effect on the human cardiovascular system, normalizing the level of blood pressure, and also cleanse the intestine from toxins and toxins.
Early varieties of cabbage ripen in 65-80 days. The weight of cabbage on average is 220 grams, some varieties can weigh more than 2 kilograms. Due to the short growing season, you can take several crops in one season. Vegetables can be cultivated not only in open ground, but also in greenhouses. Caring for a plant is not so difficult. Harvest can be stored for a long time, while cabbage will not lose its beneficial properties.
After setting the head of the cabbage, it is recommended to water the cabbage under the root, and not on top. You can lose the entire kohlrabi crop if it rains frequently.
Sprouts are watered every 2-3 days
Cabbage can grow on any soil
The pulp is juicy and soft
Brussels
This is a rare variety found in Russia. A feature of this species is the fact that the composition contains mustard oil, characteristic of radish. This component helps give the product a nutty flavor.
The main advantage of culture cultivation is unpretentiousness to the climate of the middle zone. The lack of vegetables is a long growing season. When planting seeds in April, it will be possible to get a crop only by the end of summer or by the end of September. The growing season is about 5 months. To speed up the growing process, it is recommended to plant seedlings, and not to sow seeds.
Brussels sprouts grow well in open, sunny areas. The soil should be rich in organic matter, moderately moist. PH of the soil - not lower than 5.5.
A favorable temperature for seedling growth is a daytime temperature of 12-15 ° C
One of the most important measures for the care of cabbage is inter-row processing
Harvesting begins when the cabbage heads have reached economic viability
Bok Choy (Chinese cabbage)
Leaf formation of a headless vegetable is more likely to be similar to lettuce, but has a more saturated green color. The value of cabbage is the presence of lysine (an amino acid that cleanses the body of toxins, waste and other harmful substances).
The Chinese appreciate this vegetable not only for its taste, but also for the fact that cabbage helps strengthen the immune system, which is very important for longevity. The benefits of Chinese cabbage include the following factors:
- ease in observing the rules of agricultural technology;
- delicate leaf structure, due to which the vegetable is used for baby food;
- Harvesting in June, which is very useful for filling the deficiency of vitamins in the body.
After the onset of cold weather, pots with cabbage can be placed indoors and harvested until December.
Seedlings are not dived, but planted in the ground when 4-5 true leaves appear
Harvest ripens three weeks after planting
When harvesting, the cabbage is pulled out with the root, which is then cut
Beijing
Beijing cabbage (a variety of Chinese cabbage) is a popular vegetable that is famous for its juiciness and tenderness. The vegetable has a rich vitamin composition, interesting taste and high yield. From one hectare you can collect about 900 centners of the crop.
"Pekingka" grows in low temperatures, which is characteristic of the climate of the middle zone. The growing season lasts only 50-70 days, so you can harvest 2-3 times in one season. The culture is grown, both in open ground and in greenhouses throughout the year.
Culture Benefits:
- many nutrients in the composition;
- high productivity;
- young shoots are highly resistant to frost.
The product withstands freezing up to -7 degrees. But the vegetable has some disadvantages: it attracts the attention of pests and is vulnerable to diseases. The disadvantage is that the yield depends on the fertility of the soil, agricultural technology is not fully understood.
Cabbage grows better in drained and moderately moist soil
Cabbage prefers open, unshaded areas
Cabbage contains a large amount of vitamins and other beneficial substances.
Marine
This is an algae growing at the bottom of the sea. Seaweed is very popular because the product contains a large amount of iodine - a substance that is especially necessary for the normal functioning of the thyroid gland.
Initially, sea kale was not grown, but simply harvested in the sea. Now it is purposefully grown in Asia. Collecting sea kale is a physically challenging task. How to grow and collect sea kale, see the video below:
Cauliflower
The variety got its name due to the fact that all shades of the rainbow of this vegetable are found in nature. The process of growing this species does not require attention and high costs. It is only necessary to observe the rules of agricultural technology.
An annual plant forms dense inflorescences weighing from 350 grams to 1.5 kilograms. Harvesting is possible after 3-3.5 months after the sprouts appear, this applies to early ripening varieties.
Immerse seedlings in the ground to cotyledon leaves
Avoid waterlogging of the soil, especially at low temperatures
The difference in ripening of each exotic variety is about 14 days
The disadvantages of cauliflower include instability to various pests and diseases.
You can find the varieties of cauliflower popular with gardeners here.
If the gardener decided to plant cabbage on his plot, then it is important to familiarize yourself with all the advantages, disadvantages, and characteristics of the cabbage in order to know which species to choose. So you can successfully grow a vegetable for yourself and for sale.