Ornamental cabbage: photo, planting, growing and care

A spectacular variety of kale is called ornamental. The agricultural technology of the crop is simple, but it also has some secrets. So, not everyone knows that brassica is stored until the new season. Let's consider the features of planting ornamental cabbage and caring for it in open ground.

Growing ornamental cabbage seedlings from seeds

Decorative cabbage (brassica) is sown in early spring, in the south of Russia - immediately in open ground. For most areas, only the seedling growing method is suitable. Seedlings are prepared 1.5 months before transferring to the garden bed (flower bed). Different climates have their own sowing dates:

• in the southern regions - late February - early March;
• for the middle zone, including the Moscow region - from mid-March;
• in Siberia, the Urals and North-West Russia - from the second ten days of April.

Care and conditions for seed germination

The secret of healthy and strong seedlings: shade and warmth at the beginning of cultivation, light and coolness at the end.

The traditional container is a rectangular container about 10 cm high. It is convenient to move and the seedlings are easy to care for. As the plants develop, they dive into separate containers - plastic cassettes and peat cups with a diameter of 5–7 cm and a height of 8–10 cm. Such containers take up more space, but intermediate replanting is not required for the plants, and the risk of injuring the roots is minimal. Holes are pierced in any container to allow water to drain.

The soil is loose, light, with neutral acidity (pH 6.2–7.0).Suitable compositions: garden soil, peat and river sand (1:1:1/2), or a bucket of turf soil and humus (1:1) and 1 tbsp. ash, or a ready-made universal mixture for vegetable seedlings.

Important! The day before sowing the seeds are disinfected for 30–40 minutes in a 1% solution of potassium permanganate and allowed to dry at room temperature. Pelleted planting material does not require treatment.

Step-by-step planting instructions:

1. 1 cm of fine-grained drainage (brick chips, perlite) and soil are poured into the container. The surface is compacted and moistened with warm water. It is more convenient to use a spray bottle.
2. Furrows are made in the container up to 5 mm deep, with a distance of 2.5–3 cm. Seeds are laid out every 3 cm, and the ground is leveled. 2 seeds are planted in cassettes and cups.
3. The containers are covered with film and placed in partial shade. The greenhouse temperature is +18…+20°C.
4. After 3–5 days, sprouts will appear. On the first day after germination, the film is removed for 2-3 hours, and on the second day it is removed completely. Seedlings require long daylight hours (12–15 hours) and coolness: during the day - +10...+12°C, at night - +6...+8°C. A bright balcony or veranda will do. The lack of light is compensated with a phytolamp.
5. A strong sprout is left in cassettes and cups, and the weak ones are pinched. Water so that the soil is always moderately moist.
6. After 10 days, the temperature is increased to +13...+16°C during the day and +8...+10°C at night.
7. Fertilizing is applied in the first leaf phase and a week after picking. Use ready-made complex fertilizer for vegetable seedlings or universal Fertika Lux.
8. With the appearance of 2 true leaves, seedlings from the container are dived into separate pots with a diameter of about 7 cm. They are buried down to the cotyledon leaves.

Ornamental cabbage is a cold-resistant crop.If you keep seedlings in room heat, the sprouts will stretch, become thinner and weaker. At temperatures above +18°C, healthy seedlings will not grow.

How to plant ornamental cabbage in open ground

From May to mid-June, brassica is transplanted into open ground. The timing depends on the weather and the condition of the seedlings:

• steady air temperature - +10°C;
• seedlings are 40–45 days old, each with 4–5 true leaves.

Soil preparation

Loamy and sandy loam soil is suitable for cabbage. It should be loose, neutral and moisture permeable. The place has been being prepared since the fall. The earth is dug up to a bayonet depth, fertilized with humus or compost (1 bucket per 1 m²). For deoxidation, add ash, dolomite flour or slaked lime (0.5 kg per 1 m²). In spring, the soil on the site is loosened and leveled.

Disembarkation algorithm

Seedlings are watered 6 hours before transferring to open ground.

The holes are arranged in a checkerboard pattern. For low-growing plants - at a distance of 30-45 cm, for tall plants - 50-60 cm. The diameter of the planting hole is 2 times wider than the earthen ball of the seedling (10-15 cm), depth - 15 cm. It is more convenient to calculate based on the size of the seedling cup.

Brassica is planted using the transshipment method. The pot (glass) is carefully removed, the plant along with the earthen ball is placed in the hole. The hole is filled with earth up to the lower leaves of the seedling, and the soil around the stem is compacted. Water generously, but so that the water is quickly absorbed and no puddles remain.

Reference. There is no need to remove peat cups - they quickly decompose in the soil and feed the roots.

To protect against insects, the beds are mulched with pine needles or dusted with wood ash, tobacco dust, a mixture of soda and allspice (2 tablespoons of pepper per 500 g of soda - a pinch around the stems).

Caring for ornamental cabbage

The main thing in caring for brassica is to water it and make sure that pests do not spoil its lush rosette. After moistening, weeds are removed and tall hybrids are hilled up to stimulate root growth and strengthen the stem.

Let's look at the features of growing crops and caring for them with photos.

Watering

The frequency of watering depends on the local climate and weather conditions. From excess moisture the plant will begin to rot, and from too little moisture the rosette will become deformed. Water the crop in the morning with warm water so that the soil is always moderately moist.

In the first week of growth in open ground, seedlings are moistened daily, then once a week. During the summer heat - 2 times a week, 5-8 liters of water are spent on each bush.

If brassica is grown in decorative garden flowerpots or pots with a volume of 10–15 liters, water it once every 2-3 days, and in hot weather - daily.

Root watering is alternated with sprinkling. Mulching helps retain moisture and protects against drying out and weeds.

Top dressing

The first feeding is 2 weeks after planting. To quickly gain green mass, apply any nitrogen fertilizer one-time.

Important! It is not recommended to get carried away with fertilizing; two per season is enough. The plant will not die from an excess of nutrients, the rosette will be lush and green, but no decorative color will appear.

3 weeks after the first fertilizer, a complex nitrogen-free product based on phosphorus, potassium and magnesium is applied.

Prevention of diseases and pests

The causes of diseases are weather (frequent rains, abnormal heat), insect pests, but most often - errors in agricultural technology and crop rotation: thickened plantings, waterlogging and watering with ice water.Because of this, root rot and powdery mildew appear, and during the dry period, with a lack of moisture, insects breed.

Disease prevention measures:

• in the fall, clean the area from plant debris - pest eggs remain in them and pathogenic microflora develops;
• lime the soil before winter - cabbage gets sick in an acidic environment;
• disinfect seeds before sowing;
• treat the soil with a fungicide (TMTD, iprodione) if the plants were sick last season.

How to prevent pest damage:

1. To prevent bedbugs, cruciferous flea beetles, and cabbage flies, marigolds, dill, calendula, and basil are planted next to brassica. Wormwood branches are laid out between the rows.
2. To remove caterpillars, slugs, and aphids, plants and soil are dusted with a mixture of ash and ground pepper, mulched with pine needles, and sprayed with water acidified with vinegar.
3. A universal home remedy - tobacco dust infusion: 2 tbsp. tobacco dust is infused for 24 hours in 5 liters of hot water, filtered and added 2 tbsp. l. liquid soap. Plants are sprayed every 2 weeks.

How to preserve ornamental cabbage until spring

Brassica does not lose its decorative appearance for a long time. It winters calmly in the southern regions, but in regions with a cold climate it will not survive a frosty winter. In this case, there is a way to preserve the plant until the new season.

In the fall, before the first frost, the cabbage is dug up along with the roots and the excess soil is shaken off. There is no need to completely clean it, but the soil must be dry. The root is wrapped in a plastic bag. The plant is hung with the rosette down in a dark and cool room (basement, pantry or on a cold veranda).

Winter storage conditions:

• temperature - +1...-1°C;
• air humidity - 85–95%.

If you store cabbage correctly, the leaves will not wither.

Reference. Frostbitten plants are not dug up. They will rot quickly, so they are not suitable for storage.

Propagation of ornamental cabbage

Ornamental cabbage has a two-year life cycle. In the first year the plant forms a rosette, in the second it blooms and produces seeds.

To obtain seed, cabbage is dug up in the fall and stored until spring. By the end of March, buds will appear on the stem. The plant, together with a lump of earth, is placed in a pot of water and transferred to a bright and cool room.

At the end of April - beginning of May, cabbage is planted in open ground. A hole is dug to the size of the roots, humus is added (1/2 bucket) and watered abundantly (8–10 liters of water). The plant is buried to the level of the buds. In case of return frosts, cover with spunbond.

Brassica will bloom towards the end of summer. After 20 days, fruit pods will appear. The seeds are collected a month later, before the pods open.

This is interesting:

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Conclusion

Ornamental cabbage is called the long-liver of the garden - it does not lose its attractive appearance until mid-December. The crop is grown by seedlings. The key points in care are proper watering and protection from pests. In the fall, the plant is dug up, stored and planted next season.