Today we will tell you about kohlrabi cabbage, whose photo is surprising for many. A rather original variety of this vegetable has not only an interesting appearance, but also a storehouse of nutrients.
In this article you will learn about the care and cultivation of kohlrabi cabbage, the photo and description of which is unlikely to leave you indifferent. The vitamin “bomb,” as this vegetable is also called, is superior in taste to most of the other varieties of cabbage. In addition, she is quite unpretentious and easy to care for.
Cabbage kohlrabi: photo and description
The homeland of this type of cabbage is Sicily. Kohlrabi is very popular in Western Europe, Turkey and China. Recently, it has become increasingly cultivated in our country.
Kohlrabi cabbage is a garden variety characterized by high productivity and very short ripening times. With proper care, the first crop can be obtained already 2.5 months after sowing.
A turnip-stem with leaves growing above the surface of the soil without touching it is used as food. The color of the stem can be either light green or saturated purple, depending on the variety. The shape of the cabbage also depends on the variety and can be round or flat round.
Each leaf has a long petiole and an oval (sometimes triangular) shape. The flesh of the cabbage is white, regardless of the color of the outer leaves. Its taste is very delicate and slightly sweet, vaguely reminiscent of a stalk of ordinary cabbage, only much juicier and tastier.
Varieties
Among the many varieties of kohlrabi cabbage, we chose the most popular among experienced vegetable growers. After reviewing this section, you are sure to choose a variety that suits you.
- Viennese white 1350. One of the earliest and most popular varieties. The first crop can be harvested 65 days after sowing. The rounded stembled has a diameter of about 9 centimeters and a weight of not more than 100 grams. This variety is prone to overgrowth and is not subject to long-term storage. Fast ripening times allow you to get three, or even four, crops per season.
- Vienna blue. As shown in the photo of kohlrabi cabbage of this variety, its stem has a bluish-violet hue. Medium early ripening allows you to get the first crop 72 days after planting. This variety is not prone to overgrowing, so you can take your time collecting it. The mass of a ripe vegetable reaches 150 grams, with a diameter of 6 to 8 centimeters.
- Violetta. Czech kohlrabi cabbage, which has a fairly late ripening time - about 80 days. The fruits of this cabbage are quite large, sometimes they can grow up to 2 kilograms. The shade of the outer leaves of Violetta is similar to Vienna blue. Many vegetable growers prefer this variety because of its frost resistance and suitability for storage, as well as because of the high content of vitamins B and C. This variety can be safely used for decorative purposes.
- Giant. Another Czech large-fruited variety with late ripening. Stem crops with a weight of about three kilograms can be obtained 90-100 days after planting. The diameter of ripe cabbage is from 15 to 20 centimeters. Very juicy pulp, hidden under light green leaves, has a very pleasant taste. The main advantage of the Giant is its resistance to drought.
- Delicious white. Early ripening variety with white color stembled. It is high in vitamins and sugars. The variety is prone to overgrow, so harvesting must be done when the fruits reach an eight-centimeter diameter. It does not tolerate differences in soil moisture, but is not demanding on heat and fertile soil composition.
Features and timing
Growing kohlrabi cabbage in the open ground, the maintenance of which is quite simple, you can get two crops in one season. For this, it is important to comply with the timing of its planting and provide all the necessary conditions for comfortable growth and development of the plant. Paying attention to all the nuances during planting and further care, you will definitely get a tasty and healthy product grown by yourself.
The first landing of kohlrabi cabbage should be carried out in the first half of May. The following calls are made in June and July. However, this information applies to the cultivation of cabbage seedlings. At the time of transplanting seedlings in open ground, its age is at least 40 days. Having planted seedlings in early May, you will receive the first crop in June. And the seeds sown for seedlings in June will yield in the fall - in the second half of September.
Soil requirements
Kohlrabi cabbage is a light-loving plant, and therefore, when choosing a site for planting, a well-lit place should be preferred. Cabbage shoots are quite unpretentious to the quality of the soil. However, if you want to get the maximum and most delicious crop, it’s worth considering some points.
The acidity of the soil affects the quantity and quality of the crop, so it is advisable to choose a neutral or slightly acidic soil. Be sure to have good drainage, which will protect the plant from stagnation of moisture.
A sufficient content of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the soil will give the cabbage plentiful foliage and will allow you to grow large vegetables. If these conditions are not created, kohlrabi cabbage will not have the proper size and juiciness.
Good growth of cabbage is observed in areas where potatoes, legumes, carrots, onions and beets were previously grown.
Seedling preparation
To grow cabbage in a seedling (more preferable) way, it is necessary not only to prepare fertile soil and to process and harden the seeds, but also to pick in time and create comfortable temperature conditions for germination.
Soil for planting seedlings should consist of equal parts of peat, sand and sod land. To disinfect the seeds should be treated with manganese solution. You can also process the substrate for future seedlings.
Begin sowing seeds in early March. Furrows for planting seeds should have a depth of not more than a centimeter, and the distance between them - 3 centimeters. Seeds are sown at a distance of about a centimeter from each other. The soil is moistened, and the box with plantings is covered with a film to maintain greenhouse conditions.
Until the emergence of seedlings, it is important to maintain a temperature of +20 ° C, then for a week it is lowered to +9 ° C. After such a peculiar hardening, the temperature rises again to +18 ° C. The pick is made from the moment the first leaves appear. A week before transplanting into open ground, seedlings are stopped watering.
Seedling Transplant Scheme
There are many opinions about the care and cultivation of kohlrabi cabbage in the open ground. We want to share with you only the proven options for transplanting seedlings of this vegetable.
The readiness of seedlings for transplantation is determined by the number of leaves. Basically, it is not less than 5-6 leaves. Seedlings are planted on a cloudy day or after sunset. The first few days after transplanting, it is advisable to shade the sprouts.
For varieties with the earliest possible ripening, the scheme 60 * 20 or 70 * 30 is suitable, where the first digit means the distance between the rows, and the second - between shoots. For later varieties, the distances increase slightly: 60 * 40 or 70 * 45.
Planting seeds in open ground
Before sowing seeds in open ground, it is necessary to prepare them for this process. To do this, for 15-20 minutes, the seeds are placed in hot water (at least 50 ° C), then for a minute in ice water. Then the seeds are soaked for 12 hours in water with a growth stimulant, washed and sent to the refrigerator chamber for a day.
Immediately before planting, the seeds are dried. The seeds are deepened by 2 centimeters, with a distance between the seeds of about 3 centimeters, and between rows of at least half a meter. With the appearance of the first leaves on the sprouts, thinning is carried out so that shoots remain at a distance of 7-8 centimeters. The second thinning is carried out at the moment of closing the leaves - then the distance between the cabbage is brought up to 20 centimeters.
Features of growing kohlrabi cabbage
A photo of such an interesting variety of cabbage makes you think about the possible difficulties of leaving. However, do not worry - to grow it is very simple. Kohlrabi is light and heat-loving, and therefore a good place for landing, periodic watering and top dressing will be enough to get a rich harvest.
This type of vegetable is planted on the south or southeast side of the summer cottage. After transplanting seedlings, the soil is well compacted, spills abundantly, and the planting is sprinkled with earth. Such measures will prevent excessive evaporation of moisture. But too deep planting leads to flowering plants, which harms the formation of the fetus.
Watering and feeding
Kohlrabi cabbage, like other varieties of this vegetable, loves moisture. Therefore, regular watering is important - every 2-3 days after planting. As seedlings develop, watering is slightly reduced: up to 1 time per week in normal weather. It is important not to overmoisten the soil - this can cause a number of diseases. In too hot weather it is permissible to water the kohlrabi cabbage.
Care for cabbage also consists in the application of fertilizing. Fertilize the soil 3-4 times for the entire season, every 10-15 days. The first time the cabbage is fertilized with chicken droppings, the second top dressing is carried out with the help of rotted manure, all the rest with mineral fertilizers.
The benefits of loosening
For kohlrabi cabbage, loose and light soil is important. Therefore, after each watering, it is imperative to loosen the soil around the plantings to a depth of at least 8 centimeters. The benefits of such a procedure for many are obvious:
- the soil has a light structure;
- saturation of roots with oxygen;
- decomposition of organic fertilizers is accelerated;
- moisture evaporation slows down;
- weeds are destroyed in the early stages of their development.
Diseases and Pests
When growing kohlrabi cabbage, you may encounter some problems in the form of diseases and the invasion of harmful insects.
Among the common diseases of cabbage, one can find a black leg, downy mildew, keel and mucous bacteriosis. Since this vegetable does not tolerate the use of chemicals, preference is given to alternative methods of processing. For example, liming the soil, treating with wood ash and spraying with soap and water (tar or household soap is used).
And tobacco infusion will help to overcome cruciferous midges, cabbage fly, aphids, whites and slugs. The success of the use of a mixture of ash, tobacco and pepper.