Sowing and growing Savoy cabbage
Savoy cabbage is not very popular among Russian vegetable growers. Many gardeners believe that it is capricious and not suitable for harsh climates. However, cabbage does not require special care. It survives frost better than white cabbage, is much more tender and tastier, and contains less mustard oils and fiber. The ascorbigen found in it, when broken down in the stomach, slows down the growth of cancerous tumors.
Which savoy cabbage is best to plant?
Savoy cabbage is a subspecies of cabbage. The plant is characterized by corrugated thin leaves, color from soft green to dark emerald, pleasant and delicate taste. Its edibility was first discovered in North Africa and the western Mediterranean. Later, in the Italian county of Savoy, cabbage began to be grown as a crop, and the vegetable received its name from this place. In Russia, the plant has not become widespread due to its unsuitability for pickling, relatively low yield compared to white cabbage and the erroneous judgment that the crop is capricious and will not survive in the Russian climate.
Varieties and hybrids of Savoy cabbage a lot has been brought out, but The following are best suited for sowing in Russia::
- late-ripening: Alaska F1, Viratoba F1, Virosa F1, Jade F1, Nadya - the heads of cabbage are hard, ripen for a long time and are well stored in winter (up to 6 months after harvest);
- mid-season: Vertu 1340, Melissa F1, Mila F1, Ovasa F1, Sfera F1, Extrema F1 - large heads of cabbage, stored for up to 5 months, resistant to cracking;
- early ripening: Golden early, Elena F1, Moscow lacemaker, Nyusha, Petrovna, Pirozhkovaya, Salima F1, Yubileinaya 2170 - they have a very delicate taste and flexible leaves, the harvest is stored for up to 3-4 months.
All of them adapted for cultivation in greenhouses and open ground.
Interesting things on the site:
Benefits and harms, features of the use of Savoy cabbage
Growing Savoy cabbage from seeds
Before germination, they improve seed germination and protect them from certain diseases.. The cultivation rules are almost the same as for white cabbage, but there are some nuances. It is important to carefully care for the seedlings, fertilize the soil, and adhere to the temperature regime.
Soil preparation
To get a harvest in early June, buy and plant seeds of early varieties and hybrids. They begin to grow seedlings in March and transfer them to open ground from May 1 to May 10.
Successful the harvest largely depends on the conditions in which the seedlings grow:
- plants are planted in separate containers so that the root system is formed correctly;
- if planting in the ground under the film occurs in April, after 40 days the seedlings are transplanted to a permanent place;
- optimal soil acidity - pH 5.6-7;
- the soil should be soft and not too loose: mix 80% peat, 20% turf soil, 5% sand and 5% humus, add 1 tbsp per 1 kg of mixture. l. wood ash.
The soil is pre-watered strong solution of potassium permanganate for disinfection.
Sowing seeds
Planting material is heated for 20 minutes in hot (+50°C) and cooled for 5 minutes in cold water. This increases the resistance of future plants to fungal diseases.Then the seeds are immersed for several hours in a solution of a growth stimulator - humate, Epin, Silka, etc.
Advice! First read the instructions on the packaging with planting material. The seeds of some varieties cannot be soaked; in hybrids, they are usually processed by the manufacturer; coated seeds do not require any preparation.
Step-by-step planting of seeds:
- Place seeds in pre-prepared grooves at 3 cm intervals in treated and moist soil in 1 cm increments.
- Bury them to a depth of 1 cm. Moisten them with a spray bottle.
- Make a greenhouse out of glass or film in which a constant temperature of +18°C will be maintained.
The first shoots are placed in a bright place, where the temperature is maintained at least +8°C.
Seedling care
Properly grown seedlings are the key to a good harvest in the future. After the first shoots appear, they are thinned out, maintaining a distance of 2 cm. It is important not to deprive the seedlings of light; their daylight hours should be 14-15 hours. During picking, install a phytolamp or a regular fluorescent lamp to compensate for the lack of light.
When will the first shoots appear?, the temperature in the room with seedlings should be at least +18…+20°C. When the sprouts become stronger, it is reduced to +15...+16°C during the day and +8...+11°C at night, otherwise they will stretch too high. Water the plants as the top layer of soil dries.
Important! If the plants were planted in a common container, when they have 5 leaves, they are planted in separate containers. Deepen to the cotyledons.
Thickened planting, stagnation of moisture in the soil, non-compliance with temperature standards lead to the appearance of black leg in plants, rotting of the root part of the stems.
After picking, use for feeding every 2 weeks. a mixture of 2 g of ammonium nitrate, 4 g of potassium fertilizers and superphosphate and 1 liter of water. First, water the ground with water to avoid burns on the seedlings.
Plants are hardened off 1-2 weeks before transplanting into open ground.: taken outside, gradually increasing the time spent there from several hours to 1 day.
Landing at a permanent place
The place on the site for culture should be well lit. The soil is suitable loamy, neutral or sandy loam.
The bed is prepared in the fall: they dig up the soil deeply, wait for the weeds and remove them, and then again distribute the soil evenly over the site. In spring, for every 1 m², add 3 kg of manure or compost, 40 g of mineral fertilizer and 150 g of wood ash. The soil is dug up 20 cm deep.
Reference. Suitable predecessors of Savoy cabbage are legumes, nightshade and grain crops, onions, cucumbers, and beets. Unsuitable - other cruciferous vegetables.
Before planting, seedlings are watered abundantly 2 hours before planting., to make it easier to remove it from the containers without damaging the roots. Dig holes equal to the height of the containers, 40 cm apart, and water generously. Plants are buried along the cotyledon leaves.
At first, do not keep the sprouts in direct sunlightTo avoid burns, for example, they make a canopy. After 7 days in the shade, the shelter is removed. The light regime for young cabbage is at least 12 hours.
Caring for Savoy cabbage
The vegetable is very moisture-loving; for its proper development, soil moisture should always be 70–80%, air - 85%. Yellow leaves and limp stems are signs of lack of moisture. Feeding, protection from cold, diseases and pests is a set of mandatory measures that will ensure a good harvest.
Watering, loosening and hilling
Water the cabbage every 6-7 daysusing 1-2 liters of water per plant. When a head of cabbage begins to form, the liquid consumption is increased to 3-4 liters.
The irrigation regime is adjusted depending on the weather. Moistening is stopped 2 weeks before harvest.
1-2 weeks after transplanting the plants, carefully loosen the soil. The procedure is repeated each time after moisturizing. Hilling of cabbage begins after the formation of large leaves and is repeated after 20–25 days. Do this on the 2nd day after rain or watering.
Fertilizer
Ideal fertilizer composition for Savoy cabbage - 15 g of urea, 15 g of potassium fertilizer and 40 g of superphosphate (diluted 1:10 with water). When the planted seedlings begin to grow, liquid mullein (1:10) or urea (30 g/m²) is added to the soil. Early varieties are fed 1-2 times per season, mid- and late-ripening varieties - 3-4 times.
On poor soils, fertilizing is applied once every 2 weeks.. To enrich the soil, infusions of dandelion and nettle are used.
When heads of cabbage begin to form, use mineral fertilizers with a high content of superphosphate and potassium sulfate.
What to do if the heads of cabbage are not tied
Eat there are many factors that influence the formation of heads of cabbage:
- no loosening of the soil;
- lack of light;
- inappropriate soil acidity (the norm for cabbage is pH 5.6–7);
- various diseases and damage to plants (alternaria, white, downy mildew).
During the formation of a rosette of leaves, it is important to water the plant abundantly.. Lack of moisture is a common cause of forks not tying. In this case, you cannot fill the soil. The optimal humidity level is 70–80%.
If you eliminate these reasons, you will be able to help the cabbage form heads. and prevent her death.
Ripening time and average yield
On average, heads of early cabbage begin to be collected 80–100 days after germination., medium - on days 120-150, late - on days 160-170. The size of the forks in early Savoy cabbage reaches a diameter of 50–60 cm, in late ones it is usually a little larger.
Reference. The average yield of early-ripening varieties and hybrids is 3–5 kg/m², mid-ripening—5–8 kg/m², late-ripening—6–12 kg/m².
When to harvest savoy cabbage? The early harvest ripens by the end of June - mid-July, average - in August. The heads of cabbage weigh from 0.7 to 2 kg, are fully formed, so you should not delay picking, otherwise they will begin to crack.
Late varieties can withstand cold temperatures down to -8°C and are harvested in mid-October. Cold has a positive effect on the taste of cabbage. In the cellar, the harvest is stored at a temperature of +1...-3°C.
Is he afraid of frost?
When growing without seedlings, the temperature should not fall below +1°C. They harden off seedlings in cold greenhouses, briefly reducing the temperature to -5°C, but this increases the risk of reducing the total number of ready-made heads of cabbage. If it is less than -7°C outside, the seedlings die.
Features of growing and caring for some varieties
Moscow lacemaker - early ripening variety. It is distinguished by light leaves with a slight waxy coating; one head of cabbage weighs approximately 1 kg. The harvest is ready for consumption within 110 days after seed germination. The taste is delicate, the fork itself is very juicy and not prone to cracking. The crop is resistant to fusarium, the yield is 3.7 kg/m². Recommended for cultivation in all regions.
Reference. Like any cabbage, early ripening cabbage is planted only in prepared and fertilized soil and watered abundantly when the head is formed. It does not tolerate frost well.
Pirozhkovaya is another popular early variety, zoned for all of Russia.. The heads of cabbage are broadly ovoid, the weight of one reaches 1.2 kg. The leaves are gray-green, the taste is excellent. Productivity - 5 kg/m². Savoy cabbage has a tendency to bloom. If the seedlings have been at a temperature of +5...+10°C for a long time, they will bloom even before the heads form.
Conclusion
The prejudice that Savoy cabbage is capricious and almost impossible to grow in open ground is false. With proper care, compliance with the watering system, and proper feeding, you will be able to reap a rich harvest of this healthy and tasty vegetable. The culture also performs decorative functions - thanks to its curly leaves it looks like a flower, not a vegetable.