Nowadays, green cabbage is becoming very popular, similar to cauliflowers in inflorescences. These are broccoli. A very useful vegetable that can be grown in any form of soil. What are the ways to achieve a good harvest and what are the features of this type of cabbage will be discussed later in the article.
What is broccoli?
Broccoli is a vegetable crop belonging to the Cabbage family. People call it stem, asparagus and sprout cabbage.
Botanical Description
Broccoli cabbage is a one-year-old herbaceous plant that grows up to 1 m high. It has a branched root and a cylindrical stalk with wide, often turned up large, leaves of dark green color on a long petiole. The shape of the sheet plate is determined by variety. It can be smooth and shiny or have a deformed surface with curly edges.
The stem stem passes into the head, densely packed with inflorescences. If you remove the apical inflorescence, this will stimulate the development of peripheral-lateral heads, leading to an increase in the total yield.
During the flowering period, which occurs in the early to mid-autumn, cabbage blooms small yellow, less often white, flowers. From them, fruits are formed in the form of a two-pod pod. Seeds of various shades of brown-black color, quite large, round. The crop yield reaches 12-15 kg / 10 square meters. m
Specifications
Mention of broccoli appears in the culture of ancient Rome, but Asia Minor and the Mediterranean lands are considered a deposit of culture. In Europe, culture gained recognition only in the 16th century. Americans began to engage in mass breeding of cabbage of this species in the 20th century. In Russia, broccoli was appreciated recently. Thanks to suitable conditions for vegetation, it received its distribution in the middle zone of the country.
Broccoli is similar to cauliflower, being its ancestor. But, having differences in their appearance, they differ in taste and chemical composition. Broccoli cabbage has 2 varieties:
- It develops with one head of cabbage, consisting of compactly arranged inflorescences.
- They consist of many separate peduncles, not assembled into a single head (asparagus hybrids).
Inflorescences of a green or purple hue, which contain a large amount of nutrients and useful elements, are consumed as food. Broccoli contains:
- Vitamins: groups B, E, A, PP, K, U, C. Thanks to them, the condition of hair and nails improves, visual acuity, the nervous system comes into balance, immunity increases.
- Minerals: K, Mg, Ca, Na, Fe, Zn, Mg, Se, Cu. They remove excess fluid from the body, facilitating the work of the kidneys, have a beneficial effect on cardiac activity, blood composition, and stimulate the production of bile.
- Cellulose, stimulating the intestines, is useful in dietary and nutrition.
According to some components, this cabbage is similar to egg white, it only does not accumulate cholesterol, but helps to reduce its level and remove it from the body. The use of broccoli contributes to the speedy healing of wounds, the restoration of cartilage, reduces the likelihood of a heart attack and stroke.
According to scientists, this type of cabbage is able to help fight cancer cells, thanks to the substance sulforaphane, and also prevents the appearance of stomach ulcers, killing the bacteria in it that cause this disease.
With the appearance of yellow flowers, cabbage is no longer suitable for use. Many dishes are made from broccoli, canned and salted.
Advantages and disadvantages of growing
The benefits of growing broccoli include:
- resistance to temporary lowering of temperature;
- regular stable demand for broccoli;
- resistance of hybrids to diseases and pests;
- the possibility of growing on the balcony and loggia;
- does not require special conditions for growing.
The disadvantages of growing cabbage of this species are:
- The need to use greenhouses and greenhouses in the northern climatic latitudes, because even the slightest frost can nullify the crop if a plant falls under their influence during seedlings or seedling growth.
- Harvest of some varieties of broccoli matures very quickly.
- Productivity depends on the quality of the performed agricultural activities.
Varieties and hybrids
Broccoli has a large variety and hybrid variety, so it is possible to make a choice for a wide variety of conditions and climates.
Name | Growing season, days | Head mass, g | Productivity, kg / sq. m | Features |
Linda | 75-80 | 350-400 | 3-4 |
|
Gnome | 110-120 | 400-600 | 4-5 |
|
Fortune | 85-90 | 150 | 2-2,5 | afraid of the cold |
Tone | 72-77 | 200 | 2,5 |
|
The emperor | 80 | up to 500 | 3-5 |
|
Lucky | 68-72 | 900 | 5-7 | disease resistant |
Vitamin | 85-90 | 300 | 3-4 |
|
Fiesta | 80 | up to 1500 | 4,5-6 |
|
Monton | 87-93 | up to 1000 | 4-5 |
|
Caesar | 115 | 500 | 3-4 |
|
Regional and climate
Broccoli cabbage feels good in a temperate climate in the middle latitudes of Russia. Seeds germinate at a temperature of 6-8 degrees, but with a prolonged period of such heat, the further formation and vegetation of the plant is greatly inhibited. The optimum temperature is considered to be 16-18 ° C.
With a temperature increase of more than 25 degrees, heads of a non-marketable kind are formed for a long time, quickly passing into the flowering phase.
In areas characterized by strong temperature fluctuations with a poor soil composition, broccoli often does not produce fruit, but becomes a "hollow", while the head develops deformed, unusable.
Where and for how much seed is sold?
Broccoli seeds are sold in specialized stores, online markets. They can be ordered by mail. The cost depends on the variety, the number of seeds in the package, wholesale, the region of the manufacturer and the distance between the control points. For instance:
- Flapru online store, Yekaterinburg: 0.5 g Tonus broccoli seeds (set of 20 packs) costs 180 rubles .;
- online store "Seeds of high germination" Ryazan: seeds of broccoli "Lord F1" 12 pcs. - 48.6 rubles .;
- online store "SemenaOpt" Rostov-on-Don: seeds of broccoli "Fiesta F1" from the Netherlands 2500 pcs. - 1590 rub.
When purchasing seeds, carefully read the information on the packaging. If you sow a hybrid marked “F1” after the name of the variety, then the seeds collected from it will not carry the qualities of a parent broccoli. Hybrid seed must be purchased annually.
Preparation for landing
Planting and further growing broccoli does not cause difficulties even for novice gardeners. But still you need to carefully and responsibly treat each of the events.
Terms
For the active growth of broccoli, an air temperature of at least 10 ° C and no higher than 25 ° C is necessary. Most varieties and hybrids prefer solar beds. It is advisable that drafts and wind gusts not have any effect on the vegetable crop.
Follow the crop rotation rule and take into account the proximity of broccoli to other plants when planting. It is not recommended to grow cabbage in the place where cultures of the Cruciferous order, the Cabbage family, grew last season.
It is optimal to plant broccoli after legumes, pumpkins, potatoes, onions, carrots, tomatoes. In the neighborhood, arrange beds with potatoes, onions, lettuce, carrots, parsley, sage, and cucumbers. You can not plant tomato, beans, strawberries and strawberries next to cabbage of this type.
Landing location and soil
The chosen place for planting broccoli should be prepared in advance, since the fall. To do this, carefully clear the bed of all plant debris from previous crops and weeds. The best option for their destruction will be burning, especially if there were cases of manifestation at the site of fungal diseases.
Dig the soil further using organic fertilizers to replenish the food supply in it. Humus or compost is suitable at a consumption rate of 3.5-5 kg per square meter. m. If the soil has an acid reaction, liming it with chalk or limestone.
Read more about disinfecting the soil before planting seedlings here.
Seeds
Before planting, seeds need preparation:
- Calibration Sort through the seed, leaving the largest specimens.
- Disinfection. Prepare a slightly pink solution of manganese and soak the seeds in it for 15-20 minutes, and then rinse with water. Do not increase the time for disinfection, so as not to cause a chemical burn to the buds of broccoli.
- Activation of growth. To increase germination and harden the seeds, soak them in the growth activator "Epin" for 12-15 hours. Another option is to keep the planting material near heating devices for 1-2 days or in the refrigerator for a day. Make sure that the seeds are not affected by temperatures below 3 degrees and above 50 ° C.
- Drying seeds. Facilitates sowing work, returning the property of flowability to seed.
After such procedures, the seeds are completely ready for sowing in open ground or for seedlings at home.
Growing instruction
In the southern climatic zones, summer residents prefer to plant a vegetable crop with seeds immediately in open ground. Despite the fact that the growing season of broccoli is long, taking from 3 to 4 months, the heads have time to mature. Seedling method of growing reduces the growing season and increases the total amount of the crop.
Seedling method
To grow seedlings will require wide low capacities. It can be wooden boxes of various sizes with a height of about 25 cm. Another container, for example, cut plastic canisters or 5-liter PET bottles, will do.
Some of the subtleties and features of sowing broccoli when growing in seedlings are described in the video below:
Purchase planting soil in a specialized store, department of a hypermarket or prepare yourself. To create a planting mixture, you need the same amount:
- land from the garden;
- humus;
- peat;
- sand.
A simpler option is to mix garden soil with wood ash (300 g of organic matter per bucket of soil).
Self-prepared landing soil 10 days before use is recommended to be calcined in the oven on a baking sheet for 20 minutes at a temperature of 150-200 ° C. After cooling, spill the soil with a weak solution of manganese. This will destroy the pest larvae present in it, as well as the spores of fungal infections.
Now you can proceed directly to the activities for sowing seeds:
- Pour a drainage layer of expanded clay, gravel or cracked brick to the bottom of the tank.
- Cover the ground with so that at least 1.5-2 cm of free space is left to the top edge. This is necessary so that during irrigation, water does not spill over the edge.
- On the entire surface, make indentations of 1.5 cm, keeping a distance of 2.5-3 cm between them. Spread the seeds in them and fill it with soil, slightly compacting it.
While maintaining the temperature regime at the level of 16-25 ° С and regular moderate moistening of the soil, the seedlings will not be long in coming.
Another method of growing seedlings is the sowing of seed material in any containers that are tight enough to each other. After 2 weeks from the emergence of seedlings, be sure to carry out the dive procedure. This transplantation of each instance of broccoli into separate more spacious containers or a greenhouse, determining seedlings in the soil by the first cotyledon leaves.
In addition, diving is necessary when:
- thickening of planting in deep boxes;
- insufficient heating of the soil and air, when the seedlings are ready for planting in open ground.
Broccoli does not tolerate diving, so if possible immediately follow the pattern of sowing seeds, so as to disturb cabbage only when planting seedlings open to the site.
After 4.5-5.5 weeks from germination, when 4-5 leaves are formed on young cabbage plants, and the root is sufficiently strengthened, carry out work on transplanting seedlings:
- Break the area of the selected site into holes, between which leave a gap of 30-50 cm. Leave the distance between the rows at least 50 cm. Spill the planting pits with water.
- Carefully remove the seedlings from the containers along with the root ball of earth. In this case, do not drag it by the stalk, so as not to destroy the plant, but slowly shaking it, release it from the container.
- Identify the plant in the hole and sprinkle the seedlings with earth. The optimum planting depth is such that the horizontal soil reaches the level of the first leaves, but does not cover them.
- Water the plot.
Do not pinch the broccoli root while diving or transplanting seedlings. This measure helps the formation of the root system in other types of cabbage. In this case, this will lead to the death of plants.
Now all that remains is to monitor the condition of the young cabbage, carrying out agricultural work on time.
Landing directly in the soil
When growing broccoli in a seedlingless manner, the seeds are sown immediately in open ground. At the same time, be sure to pre-plant soil and seed material in the same way as when planting seedlings.
When the conditions are favorable, sow the seeds in moist soil, following the planting scheme indicated on the package. When forming 2-3 leaves from seedlings, thin them, leaving between plants 35-40 cm. This distance can be more or less depending on the variety size of adult broccoli.
Favorable for carrying out transplant work is considered afternoon in cloudy weather.
How to care for crops?
Measures for plant care from the method of planting cabbage of this species do not change and include a standard set of procedures:
- watering;
- weeding and loosening;
- top dressing.
Watering broccoli
Humidify the soil, depending on weather conditions. With dry air and hot days, broccoli should be watered at least 4-5 times a week. Loosen the soil so that after irrigation, a dense layer does not form on its surface, which prevents the penetration of air into the soil and contributes to the rapid lowering of moisture into lower soil layers.
Broccoli responds well to humidification and spraying water on a plantation using a spray gun. If the cabbage does not have enough moisture, then its heads are formed small, and the taste is worsened.
Broccoli dressing
The first feeding is possible only after the second leaf appears on the plant. If the seedlings slowed down its development, it can be fed by dissolving the following components in 10 l of water:
- potassium chloride - 20 g;
- superphosphate - 20 g;
- ammonium nitrate or urea - 20 g.
The second top dressing is carried out the seedling planting field after 7-10 days (with the seedling method of growing when there are 4-6 leaves on the plant). For it, use a urea solution (20-25 g per bucket of water) or an organic solution. Mix water and manure or compost in a 4: 1 ratio. Pour 150-200 ml of fertilizer under each plant.
The third feeding of broccoli is carried out during the formation of inflorescences. Use superphosphate (20 g per 10 liters of water).
Last feeding, designed to stimulate the formation of lateral heads, spend cutting the main head of broccoli. The composition of fertilizers is similar to the third top dressing.
Diseases and Pests
The main ailment of broccoli is considered blackleg - A disease in which the root gradually rots. You can notice it by the fact that the broccoli foliage changed color to paler, became lethargic and stunted. When pulling the root out of the soil, sunken putrefactive destruction of a dark color is visible on it.
It does not make sense to deal with the problem, that is, it is determined at a later date, when the fungal disease is already progressing at the highest level. Therefore, the main help against the black leg is considered preventive measures:
- seed and soil disinfection;
- soil loosening and weed control;
- moderate watering;
- crop rotation;
- thinning plantings for airing the root part of broccoli.
The main pests of broccoli among insects are slugs and caterpillars. To combat them, give preference to folk methods:
- Infusion of potato or tomato tops. Pour 1/5 of a bucket of chopped plant material with 4/5 parts of water. Bring to a boil, boil for 3-5 minutes, and set aside in a warm place for insisting for a day.
- A solution based on tobacco dust, hot red pepper and laundry soap. Mix Art. l pepper, a handful of tobacco, 40 g of soap and 10 liters of water. Let it brew for 2-4 hours. Strain and sprinkle broccoli. Do not forget that before eating this composition should be thoroughly washed off with running water.
- Crushed eggshell repels slugs well.
Plant peppermint or marigold near broccoli - the caterpillars do not like the smell of their essential oils, which will protect the cabbage from attacks.
Of the chemicals, the preparations "Actellik", "Thunderstorm", "Foxim" and others will help. Their use is possible with strict observance of the rules and instructions.
More about the diseases and pests of cabbage is written in this article.
Harvesting
Depending on the variety, the first crop of broccoli leaves after 12-16 weeks from sowing seeds. Varietal accessory defines one head will mature or additional side heads will also please their taste.
Do not wait for the maximum size of the head, as it may oversize and lose taste. Cut broccoli in the morning, so that the head of cabbage is maximally saturated with juice.
Loose heads have fewer nutrients, but their preparation time is much shorter. Dense broccoli inflorescences require a longer heat treatment, but also a storehouse of vitamins and minerals in them much more.
The first cut heads are stored in the refrigerator for about a week. They can be frozen for the winter, sorted into inflorescences. The lateral heads and late varieties of this cabbage are best suited for preservation and preservation in the cellar at a temperature of about 0 degrees.
To clean the beds after harvesting, leave the crop residues removed from the ground on the surface. After a few weeks, small broccoli heads are formed on them, edible and very tasty.
Growing broccoli is not difficult, does not require special equipment and knowledge. Minimum material costs and a little time for the responsible implementation of the necessary agricultural work will bring joy from a generous harvest of healthy and tasty cabbage.