Red cabbage - unpretentious, healthy, beautiful, but unpopular

Red (purple, blue) cabbage is not very popular with gardeners. Meanwhile, this vegetable requires less attention when grown, is better stored, has a great taste, rich chemical composition and has medicinal properties.

Red cabbage and its features

Like its sister, white cabbage, red cabbage belongs to the Cruciferous family, a species of the genus Brassica - cabbage. Its homeland is considered the Mediterranean, and in Russia this vegetable appeared in the 17th century, but is still not very popular. The plant is two years old, the seeds can be obtained in the second year, but the head of cabbage grows in the first year. Red cabbage is used in the same way as white cabbage: raw, pickled, pickled, boiled, stewed. Its taste is spicier, and its leaves are more juicy compared to white cabbage. Heads of cabbage are round, oval or cone-shaped, have a very high density and therefore are stored for a very long time without losing their qualities. This type of cabbage differs from its sister and chemical composition: it contains 2 times more vitamin C, 10 times more vitamin A, more fiber, protein. Anthocyanins, due to which the leaves have a purple color, have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, remove toxins and toxins from the body, strengthen blood vessels. This type of cabbage helps to resist radiation and pathogens of various diseases, to heal ulcers, promote tissue repair, is a dietary product and a remedy for depression.

The color of the leaves varies depending on the pH level of the soil. In acidic soils, the enzyme from the anthocyanin group contained in the leaves acquires a pronounced red color, on neutral soils it has a purple tint, and on alkaline soils it is greenish-yellow. That is why the same plant in different countries looks and is called differently.

In terms of cultivation, red cabbage also has advantages:

• all varieties and hybrids can be grown in all regions;
• more frost-resistant;
• slightly susceptible to disease;
• resistant to pests.

Like all cabbage plants, this plant is photophilous, does not tolerate heat well, grows on fertile soils, and requires regular watering and dressing.

Popular varieties and hybrids of red cabbage

There are 43 names of this plant in the State Register of Breeding Achievements Admitted to the Use of Plants. Red cabbage will bear fruit in the harshest conditions, its seeds are capable of germinating at a temperature of only 2-3 degrees. However, in harsh climatic conditions (for example, in Siberia, in the Urals), it is worthwhile to dwell on F1 hybrids of early and medium ripening more resistant to temperature extremes.

Table: popular varieties of red cabbage

The varieties Kalibos, Mars SM are suitable for growing both in gardens and on farms.

Photo gallery: varieties of red cabbage

F1 hybrids are obtained artificially from two parental varieties. They are more expensive and the seeds will have to be bought again, because the second generation seeds will behave unpredictably. Their advantages are that the first generation hybrids will have more positive qualities and fewer disadvantages in comparison with varietal plants.

Table: Popular Red Cabbage Hybrids

The seeds of F1 hybrids will give you the opportunity to get a good harvest with less effort.

Photo Gallery: First Generation F1 Red Cabbage Hybrids

Planting red cabbage

Our cabbage can be planted in seedlings or directly in the ground. For regions with a harsh climate, only the first planting option is suitable.

Regardless of the chosen planting method, seeds are prepared in advance:

• place in water with a temperature of up to 50 ^aboutC for 20 minutes, then transfer to cold water for two minutes;
• since our culture is very fond of nitrogen, you can stimulate the seeds with a solution of ammophoska (1 teaspoon per 1 liter of water), stand for 10-12 hours and rinse with clean water;
• place the seeds in the refrigerator for a day.

Be sure to pay attention to the seedling soil. The main qualities of a good soil for our culture will be lightness, breathability and fertility. When growing in seedlings, you can use a mixture of peat and turf in a 1: 1 ratio. Seeds must be sown into prepared boxes at a distance of 7 cm from each other to a depth of 3 mm. Such a planting scheme will eliminate the stage of picking seedlings.

It is convenient to use peat pots. The suitable size for cabbage seedlings is 7 * 7 * 8 cm.

Peat pots of different shapes and sizes

Peat tablets are also a good option, which will free you from soil selection. Cabbage will receive a full set of necessary substances, the survival rate of seedlings will increase when transplanted into the ground, and the transplanting process itself will take place very quickly. Before use, the tablets are poured with water, and after 5-10 minutes they will be ready for use.

prepared peat tablets

After the first shoots appear, the temperature must be reduced for a week to 8 ^aboutFROM. In addition to ensuring the temperature regime, constant watering is needed, the seeds should not dry out, but it is not necessary to overfill them. Depending on the ripening period - early or late, depending on the conditions of your region, planting of plants should be carried out in late April - early June.

With a seedless method of planting cabbage and for planting seedlings in the ground, it is necessary to determine the location in advance. These should be sunny areas, away from buildings, trees, fences. In the area where red cabbage will grow, there should be neutral or slightly acidic soils, light, loose, rich in humus. The best option would be peat bogs or light loams. You cannot plant cabbage in the same place for several years. The best predecessors will be cucumbers, carrots, potatoes, onions, legumes and, of course, green manure.

Features of growing red cabbage

Everyone can master the cultivation of red cabbage.

Growing seedlings

After seed germination, it is very important not to miss the moment when the temperature drops, otherwise you risk being left without seedlings. In the future, plants need a temperature regime of up to 15-16 for growth. ^aboutC, constant moderate watering and feeding.

Before planting the seedlings, I feed the plants three times: the first time with the appearance of the first leaf, then 1.5–2 weeks after the first feeding, and the third - two to three days before planting the seedlings in the ground.

Now there are a lot of ready-made compositions for feeding seedlings.

I like the drug GUMI-20 (GUMI Kuznetsova).

It is an organic mineral fertilizer. For feeding or spraying seedlings, it is necessary to dilute 2 teaspoons in 10 liters of water, use the solution 1 time in 10-14 days.

Last year, at the tip of a good friend, I used Athlete for feeding seedlings. I really liked the result. The athlete stimulates the thickening of leaves and stems, the development of the root system and does not allow plants to stretch. The seedlings turned out to be strong, beautiful, tolerated transplanting well, withstood light frosts.

Atlet fertilizer solution is prepared at the rate of 15 g per 10 l of water, 50 ml of the finished solution are consumed per plant. Top dressing must be done three times (this is a full course), after feeding the seedlings should not be watered for two days.

Seedling picking

When the seedlings thicken, a pick should be done. It is produced to provide plants with a sufficient amount of nutrients and light at the stage of cotyledons (7-8 days). If you are literally 1–1.5 weeks late, you will waste time and energy, but you will not get the result from this procedure.
Before starting a pick, you need to shed the plants well in order to minimize damage to the root system. Carefully separating and taking out the seedling along with a small amount of soil, we transfer the plant to the prepared pot, deepen it to the cotyledonous leaves and squeeze it. We water the cut seedlings and for the first time cover them from direct sunlight.

Video: picking cabbage seedlings

Planting seedlings in open ground

Planting red cabbage seedlings is permissible when the plants already have 4–6 leaves of their own (5–7 weeks from the moment of sowing the seeds). Plants are planted at a considerable distance from each other (60 * 50 or 70 * 60 cm). A hole is prepared for the seedling, spilled with water, the seedlings are buried to the cotyledonous leaves, the roots are tightly compressed with earth. The first days the planted plants are shaded and watered abundantly.

I shade fresh plantings with branches with large leaves (my grandmother did this), or you can use spunbond. To protect against pests, I plant marigolds next to cabbage. They scare off whitefly butterflies, aphids, whiteflies with their aroma, protect against nematodes, fungal diseases and decorate plantings with bright sunny flowers.

Cabbage and marigolds

Video: planting red cabbage in the ground

Caring for red cabbage

Caring for red cabbage does not differ from caring for a white sister and includes:

• regular watering;
• loosening the soil, hilling and weeding;
• top dressing, nitrogen is especially in demand.

Foliar top dressing can also be carried out, I actively use peat oxidate and the humic preparation "Khozyain". And dusting with ash or tobacco dust will scare away the cabbage fly.

Video: red cabbage, seedlings, cultivation, care, pests

Harvesting times and storage methods for red cabbage

Harvesting red cabbage begins from August to October, depending on the variety. The early varieties will be stored for only two to three months, while the later ones will stay until spring and even until summer. It is very important to harvest on time, in dry, cool weather and with an eye on the lunar calendar. Red cabbage perfectly tolerates a drop in temperature and in the fall it is worth keeping it on the beds longer so that the heads of cabbage become more juicy and tasty. But you should not allow the forks to freeze, since such cabbage will be badly stored, small frosts are permissible provided that the heads of cabbage are thawed.

Video: secrets of red cabbage

When harvesting cabbage, leave a few top leaves and a stump of 3 cm or more. The best temperature for storing cabbage in the cellar is 0 ^aboutС, humidity - 90–95%. Putting different varieties together is not worth it, because the keeping rates of early, middle and late varieties are different. Also, the heads of cabbage should not touch each other. Our crops can be stored on shelves, racks, in boxes, suspended or dug in. You can wrap the forks in plastic wrap, paper, or put in plastic bags.

We pull up the cabbage for storage together with the root and hang it on hooks in the cellar. If you need to keep the cabbage for a short time, you can cut the root, wrap the forks in paper and place it again on the shelf in the cellar. When using red cabbage for salads, I cut off part of the head and put the rest in a plastic bag in the refrigerator, where it feels great for a long time.

Video: 10 ways to store cabbage

Reviews of some varieties and their cultivation

Seeds of red cabbage Gavrish "Mars MS" - tasty, easy to grow, leaves are harsh

Advantages: good germination, does not crack, does not get sick, tasty

Disadvantages: for the salad, you need to mash the leaves, harsh

From red cabbage, I grew two varieties: Faberge and Mars. Mars is mid-season, ripening about 110 days. The head of cabbage is round, purple and also purple on the cut, the stump is medium. The heads of cabbage did not grow large, only about one and a half kilograms.Grows best on loamy soil. Seed germination is always good, at least 90 percent germination. Some of the seed bags I have stored for up to three years. They were usually used fresh, since it is not stored for very long. The salad tastes like nothing, but to make a salad, chopped cabbage must be milled with something. More often the wife does it with her hands. Without mashing, the salad turns out to be harsh.

Semen Semko Junior "Red cabbage Kalibos" - The most delicious of all red cabbage

Pluses: Delicious, juicy, soft, healthy

Disadvantages: Cannot be used for long-term storage

I have been growing this cabbage in my garden for a long time, and I would like to find a replacement for it, but I cannot. Cabbage itself is very beautiful, has a conical shape, and its taste simply has no equal. All red cabbages are very beneficial for the body, but they have a common disadvantage - very rough leaves and petioles. To make a salad from such a cabbage, you need to grate it, and then crush it with your hands with salt. And still the cabbage remains firm. The Kalibos variety has absolutely no such disadvantage. The cabbage is very juicy, soft and crunchy. Salads from it are simply delicious! But this cabbage is stored only until the New Year. I wish I could find a variety of red cabbage that would have excellent taste, like the Kalibos cabbage, and would last until spring. For many years of searching, I cannot find this kind. Kalibos is the best red cabbage so far!

Red cabbage "Benefis F1" - Review of BashAgroPlast

I read a lot on the Internet about the usefulness of red cabbage and that year decided to try to plant it. One bag cost me 30 rubles. They came up very amicably, the seedlings were very good. Not a single seedling is missing. I planted it at the end of April, in a greenhouse. In care, in principle, like any cabbage. The harvest was very good. Cabbage has grown, of course, not as large as white cabbage, but very juicy and tasty. Once I bought red cabbage in a store, and I can say that “my own” cabbage, compared to “shop” cabbage, is just like heaven and earth. The one bought in the store was very rough and dry, but from the garden, on the contrary, it was very juicy and crispy. They ate it mainly in salads. Tasty even when sliced ​​with onion and butter. But if you rummage on the Internet, you can find a lot of different dishes, for example, cabbage rolls. I cooked, it turned out very tasty, you just lick your fingers! Red cabbage is poorly stored, so it is better to eat or pickle everything over the summer.

Even a novice vegetable grower can grow red cabbage. After learning about its magnificent properties, many will want to plant these beautiful and healthy vegetables in their plots, because their taste will be much better than those bought in the store.

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