Contents
Beijing cabbage has gained great popularity all over the world. It first appeared in China 5 thousand years ago. It is not known whether she is from Beijing or not, but in our area she is called that way. In other countries, its name is translated as “Chinese salad”. Indeed, the leaves of this cabbage are very similar to lettuce.
Beijing cabbage has long light green leaves, collected in a loose oblong head. In cooking, it is used in different ways. It is great for fresh salads, stews and first courses. It is worth recognizing that it is much more common on the tables than in the gardens. Some are not accustomed to growing such vegetables on their plots. Now we will compare the best varieties of Beijing cabbage, and we will prove that it is not difficult to grow it.
Overview
Not every gardener who once planted Beijing cabbage in his garden will say that this is an unpretentious vegetable. It is not as easy to grow it outdoors as ordinary white cabbage. It may never form a head of cabbage, but simply begin to bloom. The reason for this may be the low temperature of the soil after planting in open ground. If you plant seedlings in soil that has warmed up to +15 ° C, then there should not be such problems.
Of course, not in every region the soil warms up quickly. In this case, it is better to plant cabbage under cover. In the future, you will also have to monitor the temperature regime. Too high temperatures, as well as low, can lead to the onset of flowering.
There are other reasons that can lead to the appearance of flowers:
- Damaged root system. To prevent this from happening to your seedlings, it is better to plant seeds in special peat containers that are buried in the ground along with the plant.
- Temperature jumps. For normal growth and head formation, the air temperature should be around +20 °C. With an increase of only 5 degrees, the cabbage will begin to form arrows.
- Prolonged exposure to the sun. Cabbage should be under the rays of the sun no more than 12-13 hours a day. Only then will it form a head of cabbage, and gain mass.
- dense landing. This applies to planting cabbage seeds. In this case, you need to plant seeds at a distance sufficient for growth and development. An interval of about 10–15 cm is considered normal. As soon as the cabbage sprouts, it is necessary to remove all small and weak shoots. At the same time, a distance of about 25–30 cm is left between the cabbage, and about 55–60 cm will be needed between the rows. Because of the dense sowing, the cabbage will begin to reach for the sun and form seeds.
- Infertile soil. The roots of Beijing cabbage are in the top layer of soil, so it is much more difficult for it to get the necessary moisture. For example, white cabbage, which is familiar to us, has long and thick roots that are able to get nutrients from great depths. So, when growing Beijing cabbage, you will have to take care of fertilizing the soil, as well as regular loosening and watering.
Without knowing these features of Beijing cabbage, it is unlikely that you will be able to get a good harvest. But now that you are armed, you can begin to select varieties for cultivation. On sale you can find many commercial and hybrid varieties of this vegetable. Most varieties are adapted to our climate and can be kept fresh for a long time.
Universal grades
Breeders took care and bred varieties that can be grown in different climatic regions, but subject to certain care rules. For example, early cabbage should be grown in greenhouses or under cover. In the middle lane, you can grow any of the varieties below, but in the northern regions you will have to darken the plants at night.
” size”
High-yielding hybrid capable of growing even in the most adverse conditions. Heads of cabbage ripen for a long time, about 75-80 days from the moment of landing in the ground. The heads are oblong, have beautiful wavy leaves, pale green on the outside and creamy yellow on the inside. The weight of heads of cabbage can reach from 3 to 4 kg. The variety is not afraid of temperature changes, cabbage reacts normally to cold snaps. It has a high disease resistance. Contains proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. A photo of this Beijing cabbage is shown below.
“Victoria”
The variety belongs to the early ripe Chinese cabbage. It has excellent taste and pleasant fresh aroma. Suitable for cooking all kinds of dishes, both fresh and thermally processed. Heads of large sizes, long, have a cylindrical shape. Loose light green leaves are densely arranged. Cabbage is juicy and can be used to make juice. From planting seedlings in the ground until the full ripening of the first fruits, about 50–55 days pass.
“Cha Cha”
This is an early ripe hybrid variety that is great for growing in the middle lane. It is practiced both growing with seedlings and seeds. Plants planted in seedlings will give fruits in 45 days. If cabbage is grown from seeds, then the harvest will need to wait 7-10 days later. We can say that this variety belongs to the middle “weight category”. The largest heads of cabbage will weigh about 2,5-3 kilograms.
“Hydra F1”
The variety belongs to mid-season crops. From planting seedlings to ripening heads of cabbage takes about 60 days. The shape of the head is oblong. The leaves are dark green, wavy on the outside. Inside, they are pale and more even. The head is semi-open, lush. It has an excellent taste and is used to prepare fresh salads and other dishes.
“Orange Mandarin”
Probably the fastest growing variety. For this reason, it can be planted not only at the end of spring, but throughout the entire summer period. In a warm climate and fertile soil, it ripens within 40 days. The mass of heads of cabbage is small, only 1 kilogram. But this is not scary, because this variety can be planted in several stages, and several crops of cabbage can be harvested at once. Suitable for growing in the harsh conditions of Siberia. It tolerates adverse weather conditions very well.
“Marfa”
Early variety with high shade tolerance. The ripening period is very short, from planting seedlings to full maturation of heads of cabbage takes up to 40 days. Cabbage has large broad leaves. Boasts excellent taste. A head of cabbage can grow up to 1,5 kilograms in weight. Sowing for seedlings is carried out from mid-April. Planting seeds begins no earlier than the second week of May.
“Garnet”
Mid-season high-yielding variety. An elongated head of cabbage, with densely placed dark green leaves. The fruits are large, each weighing about 2-2,5 kilograms. The variety is resistant to various diseases, especially to necrosis. Sowing seedlings begin from the second week of April. Heads of cabbage ripen in 70–80 days from the moment of planting seedlings.
Conclusion
As you can see, Beijing cabbage is an excellent option for growing in a summer cottage. It matures quite quickly and does not require much maintenance. The main thing is to maintain a stable temperature regime and fertilize the soil. In order to have fresh cabbage all year round, you can plant both early and late varieties at once.
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